Thursday, May 26, 2011
Posted: 4:16 p.m.Updated: 6:17 p.m.
By Jim Salisbury
CSNPhilly.com
BOX SCORE
Its not unusual for a starting pitcher to depart the ballpark early the night before he is scheduled to start a day game.
Cliff Lee was in his car driving home by the time Wednesday nights game was in the fifth inning. His plan was to watch a little of his mates on TV and get to bed early so hed be ready to face Cincinnati in a Thursday matinee at Citizens Bank Park.
Lee didnt get much sleep. Like so many other Phillies fans, he was enthralled by the actionor non-actionthat left the Phils and Reds playing 19 innings until 1:20 a.m. Thursday. And when infielder Wilson Valdez was called on to pitchthere was no way Lee could turn off the TV.
I turned the game off and tried to sleep, but I couldnt so I turned it back on, Lee said. It was a big win.
Indeed it was. And so was Thursdays. Still riding a wave of momentum after their marathon victory the night before, the Phillies came out and blasted the Reds, 10-4, behind another strong game from Lee.
We say game because Lee turned in an outstanding all-around effort. He pitched eight innings and held one of the leagues top offenses to four runs. He also drove in three runs with a tie-breaking double in the sixth and an RBI single in the seventh.
MLB
Lee was impressed with Valdez work the night before.
He threw strikes and made them swing the bat, he said. Thats what a starting pitcher is supposed to do.
Lee did the same thing Thursday. He struck out eight Reds and walked one. He gave up 10 hits, but that happens when you throw a lot of strikes. And when the Phils are hitting as they did Thursday, a pitcher can afford to pitch to contact. The Phillies are now 20-2 when they score four or more runs. This has helped them build the best record in the NL at 31-19.
After watching his club play 19 innings just hours earlier, manager Charlie Manuel spent extra time coming up with a lineup Thursday. He ended up resting shortstop Jimmy Rollins and playing 39-year-old leftfielder Raul Ibanez. Good move on both fronts. Rookie Michael Martinez drove in a couple of important runs while starting in place of Rollins, and Ibanez finished a strong homestand (13 for 37, three HRs, nine RBIs) with a three-run homer.
Ibanez homer came in the third and helped the Phils build a 4-0 lead after Ryan Howard had doubled in a run in the first. That early offense was like caffeine to the sleepy-eyed Phils.
The early runs were big, Ibanez said. Especially when you know you have a guy like Cliff on the mound.
Sometimes when you play a late game like that you can be kind of dead, Manuel said. But when you win that game, it can still have an effect the next day, I believe.
Lee won for the second straight time on the homestand. He pitched eight shutout innings against Texas his previous outing. He also stole a base in that game. The lefthanders offensive contribution continued in this game. In the sixth inning, with the game tied, 4-4, and the bases loaded, Lee smoked a first-pitch fastball from reliever Daryl Thompson to deep center, scoring two runs.
Moments earlier, while Lee was in the on-deck circle, Manuel called the pitcher to the dugout to remind him of the bunt sign. There was no bunting here, not with the bases loaded. Lee was hungry to hit, and he delivered.
He takes a very aggressive cut, Manuel said.
Phillies fans have loved Lee since he pitched here in 2009. Their love for him grew when he spurned the Yankees and re-signed here over the winter. It keeps growing every time he takes the moundand swings the bat. This guy takes a rip at the ball. One of these days he will hit a home run. Maybe soon.
I like to hit, Lee said. Its one of the reasons I like playing in the National League. Its always a challenge. Its not easy to do, but if you take it seriously you can help your team.
With a tired bullpen, Lee was happy to go deep into the game. That was a necessity.
The Phillies are 14 games into a 20-games-in-20-days stretch that was billed as a bit of a measuring stick for the club. They are 7-7 in those games, all against teams that had winning records when the series began. The Phils lost five of six at one point in the stretch, but now appear to have righted themselves, taking three of four from Cincinnati before heading off on a nine-game roadtrip that begins in New York on Friday night.
Just a few days ago, runs were difficult to come by. Now the Phils have scored 25 in their last three wins.
We had a hard time getting guys on base and knocking them in, Manuel said. When youre not hitting, youre not going to have any energy. Hopefully we can keep this going.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com.
Related: The day after: Valdez, Phils relish marathon winPhils activate Contreras, option Herndon to Triple A