Cliff Lee was spectacular on the mound and at the plate tonight as the Phillies took their second straight from the Dodgers with a 2-1 win. Lee threw eight scoreless innings striking out ten, but the highlight of the night was his seventh inning homer off Ted Lily to right field. For his part, Lily pitched well (8IP, 2 ER), but could not equal the dominant Lee.
The only other Phillies ran came off a third inning Jimmy Rollins double that score Wilson Valdez. Ryan Madson came on in the ninth, allowing two hits and a run before striking out Rod Barajas for his 21st save of the year.
Lee’s homer was his second of the year, making him the first Phillies pitcher to have multiple home runs in a season since Randy Wolf had three in 2004. Wolf had actually hit two in a single game against the Expos that season. It was the second home run allowed to a pitcher by Ted Lily this year, the only hurler in the majors to allow more than one homer to an opposing pitcher this season.
Ryan Howard probably had the defensive highlight of the night in the bottom of the sixth when Dee Gordon attempted a bunt that squirted up between first base and the pitcher’s pound. Howard charged, scooped up the ball and then dove for Gordon, tagging him out before he could reach first. It was a terrible bunt attempt by Gordon for sure, but his ridiculous speed made it a very tough play for Howard.
The Phillies send Vance Worley to the hill tomorrow afternoon as they go for the sweep over LA and play the final of their 20 games in a row.