Cliff Lee allowed only one extra base hit in a dominating complete game shutout as the Phillies took the opener of their four game set with the Giants 3-0. Lee struck out 8 for 11th win of the year and fifth complete game shutout. Lee also benefited from some stellar defense courtesy of Placido Polanco who robbed Jeff Keppinger of a hit with a diving stop in the bottom of the sixth and then robbed Cabrera an inning later with a leaping grab on a line drive.
As for the offense... The Phillies traded for Hunter Pence to be the righty threat in their lineup against tough lefty pitchers and he did exactly that tonight. Pence and Mayberry hit back to back homers in the second inning and he drove in an insurance in the ninth. It was a three hit night for Pence, who has a hit in every game since joining the Phillies.
Meanwhile, the Phillies’ nemesis from the NLCS, Cody Ross, struck out four times including for the final out.
The Phillies have now won seven straight, tying their longest winning streak of the year. They’ve also stretched their lead in the NL East to 8.5 over the idle Braves. Just to put it in perspective, if the Giants were in the NL East, they would be 10.5 games back. In the West however, they currently lead the division by a half game over the Diamondbacks.
Vance Worley faces Johnathon Sanchez tomorrow night.