ATLANTA -- Cliff Lee pitched a gem in his first start of 2013 and the Phillies won for the first time this season, beating Atlanta, 2-0, at Turner Field on Thursday night.
The Phils had lost the first two games of the season-opening series with Cole Hamels and Roy Halladay on the mound.
The Phils (1-2) host Kansas City in the home opener on Friday afternoon.
Starting pitching report
Lee pitched eight shutout innings, allowed just two singles and struck out eight. He did not walk a batter. He threw 106 pitches -- 78 for strikes.
Lee has thrown 11 straight quality starts dating back to August 16 of last year. He has pitched at least six innings and issued one or zero walks in 18 straight starts, which is a major-league record.
Atlanta right-hander Kris Medlen went 9-0 with an 0.97 ERA in 12 starts last season, but he had a difficult time in his first start of the new year. He allowed six hits and four walks in five innings, but managed to hold the Phillies to just two runs.
Atlanta hadn’t lost a game started by Medlen since May 2010. The Braves had won in each of his previous 23 starts.
Bullpen report
Jonathan Papelbon earned his first save of the season.
At the plate
The Phils didn’t tear the cover off the ball. They left nine men on base -- eight in the first four innings -- and were 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position. Laynce Nix (single) and Erik Kratz (double) had hits in the second inning. They scored on a ground out by Ben Revere and a sacrifice fly by Chase Utley. Those were the Phillies’ only two runs.
Jimmy Rollins singled, doubled and walked.
Ryan Howard had his first hit of the season, a single up the middle in the first inning.
In the field
Third baseman Michael Young made a nice play on Chris Johnson’s ground ball to his left to end the second with a man on base.
Braves’ rightfielder Jason Heyward took away a potential extra-base hit from Revere with a long run and a diving catch in the sixth.
What’s up, Doc?
Pitching coach Rich Dubee says Roy Halladay is still fighting through some bad habits in the mechanics of his delivery (see story).
Up next
The Phillies play their home opener Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. against the Kansas City Royals. Kyle Kendrick opposes right-hander Wade Davis.