With a gaggle of scouts watching from behind the backstop at Citizens Bank Park, Cliff Lee returned to the Phillies’ rotation Monday night after spending two months on the disabled list with an elbow strain.
Lee, one of the top starting pitchers on the trade market, was not sharp. He was the losing pitcher in the Phillies’ 7-4 loss to the San Francisco Giants.
The Phillies had 14 hits in the game -- all singles.
The Phils have lost five of their last six games to fall to 43-56.
Starting pitching report
Lee allowed 12 hits and six earned runs over 5 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out three.
Lee's command was not sharp. He threw 90 pitches, 59 of which were strikes. He threw a slew of fastballs early in the game, topping out at 91 mph. His fastball was 88-90 mph from the second inning on.
Lee threw first-pitch strikes to just 13 of 28 batters.
The left-hander carried a 4-3 lead into the sixth inning. He allowed three runs in that inning to lose the lead. Lee gave up a leadoff single to Michael Morse and Adam Duvall followed with a two-run homer to center. Lee then allowed a two-out double to pinch-hitter Joaquin Arias and an RBI single to Hunter Pence before departing the game.
San Francisco starter Ryan Vogelsong allowed a career-high 11 hits over three-plus innings. He gave up four runs, one of which was unearned. He left the game trailing, 4-3, in the fourth inning.
Bullpen report
Antonio Bastardo pitched a scoreless seventh inning for the Phillies. He struck out two. Bastardo may have been auditioning for scouts. Detroit, Pittsburgh and Kansas City all had scouts on hand. All are looking for relief help.
Giants reliever George Kontos entered with Phillies runners at the corners and no outs in the fourth. He struck out Marlon Byrd and Domonic Brown and retired Cody Asche on a fly ball to get out of the inning. Kontos earned the win.
Santiago Casilla had the save.
At the plate
Asche had three hits for the Phillies.
Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard both had two-run singles for the Phillies. Howard’s came on a check-swing curveball from Vogelsong in the fourth. It gave the Phils a 4-3 lead, which did not last.
The Phils were 4 for 15 with runners in scoring position.
Pence had two singles and a triple in a two-RBI night for the Giants.
The Giants had 15 hits and were 4 for 10 with runners in scoring position.
In the field
Phillies third baseman Asche had a terrific game in the field. He made a diving play to halt a ball off the bat of Pence with two outs and the bases loaded in the fourth inning. Asche popped up and made the throw to second to get the out. The play robbed Pence of a hit and saved at least one run.
Asche made another diving play on a liner by Marco Scutaro in the fifth.
Transactions
The Phillies activated Lee, infielder Reid Brignac and catcher Wil Nieves from the DL. The team sent infielder Cesar Hernandez and catcher Koyie Hill to Triple A. Outfielder Tony Gwynn was designated for assignment.
Up next
The Giants placed right-hander Matt Cain, Tuesday night’s scheduled starter, on the disabled list with elbow inflammation before the game. Right-hander Yusmeiro Petit (3-3, 3.86) will fill Cain’s spot and pitch against Roberto Hernandez (4-8, 4.22).