MINNEAPOLIS -- Cliff Lee pitched a gem (and got just enough run support) and the beleaguered bullpen protected a late lead as the Phillies snapped a season-long five-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night.
The Phillies are 32-35.
They are 2-5 on this 10-game road trip.
Starting pitching report
Lee retired the first 10 batters he faced and the minimum through six innings. He took a 1-0 lead to the mound in the seventh, allowed a one-out walk and a bang-bang infield hit. With two outs, Lee hung an 0-2 cutter and Justin Morneau lined it to the gap in left-center to give the Twins a 2-1 lead.
The Phillies rallied for two runs in the top of the eighth to get Lee the lead before he was officially out of the game.
In all, Lee went seven innings, allowed just three hits and two runs. He walked one and struck out six.
He is 8-2 on the season and 7-1 in 10 starts following a loss.
Minnesota starter Kevin Correia allowed eight hits but just one run over five innings. He threw 112 pitches in those five innings and pitched in constant trouble, but the Phillies stranded 10 runners while he was in the game.
Bullpen report
Struggling Mike Adams had a clean eighth inning to protect a one-run lead.
Jonathan Papelbon converted the save in his first save opportunity since May 29. He is 12 for 12.
Twins right-hander Jared Burton gave up the lead in the top of the eighth.
At the plate
Ben Revere, batting leadoff, followed up a three-hit game Wednesday night with four hits and two runs scored.
Pinch-hitter Kevin Frandsen started the Phillies’ decisive two-run rally in the eighth with a double to right. He moved up on Revere’s bunt hit and scored on Michael Young’s RBI single to right. Running on contact, Revere scooted home from third with the go-ahead run on Jimmy Rollins’ slow grounder to first.
Ryan Howard had three singles and drove home the Phils’ first run.
Delmon Young struck out twice and grounded into a double play with multiple runners on base each time.
The Phillies had 16 hits but just two were for extra bases. They left 16 men on base and were 4 for 16 with runners in scoring position.
In the field
Minnesota rightfielder Ryan Doumit threw out Michael Young at the plate for the final out in the top of the sixth as the Phils got nothing to show for three straight two-out singles.
Twins leftfielder Oswaldo Arcia made a terrific sliding catch against the wall in foul territory on a pop up by Freddy Galvis to end the top of the seventh.
Health check
Carlos Ruiz will begin a minor-league rehab assignment Saturday with the Triple A Lehigh Valley club. The plan is for him to be activated a week from Friday (see story).
Transactions
Michael Martinez replaced Cesar Hernandez, who was sent to Triple A. Pitcher Tyler Cloyd was sent to Triple A and lefty reliever Jake Diekman will take his place on the roster Friday in Denver. John Lannan will come off the DL on Monday and pitch against his former Washington team in Philadelphia (see story).
Up next
The trip continues Friday night with the first of three in Denver against the Colorado Rockies. Pitching matchups:
Friday night -- RH Kyle Kendrick (6-4, 3.22) vs. RH Tyler Chatwood (3-1, 2.14)
Saturday afternoon -- RH Jonathan Pettibone (3-2, 3.70) vs. RH Juan Nicasio (4-2, 4.61)
Sunday afternoon -- LH Cole Hamels (2-9, 4.45) vs. RH Jhoulys Chacin (4-3, 4.52)
The Rockies got a little banged up in Thursday’s loss to the Nationals. Troy Tulowitzki, ranked in the top five in the NL in batting average, homers and RBIs, suffered a broke rib and is headed for the DL MRI. Carlos Gonzalez, ranked in the top five in the NL in homers and RBIs, was hit in the foot with a foul as he stood in the on-deck circle. Dexter Fowler was hit by a pitch on the hand. Both are day to day.