It has been an incredibly fast moving game at Nationals Park tonight as both starting pitchers are locked in, but predictably Cliff has been just a bit better.
Nats starter Jordan Zimmerman not hit the Phillies through five, but made a mistake to lead off the sixth that Carlos Ruiz drove in the left field bleachers to put the Phils up 1-0. Shane Victorino would also score that inning thanks to Jerry Hairston Jr’s error.
Cliff, on the hand, has been pretty much flawless. He’s allowed just two hits through seven innings with 10 strikeouts. He’s struck out Nats leadoff man Ian Desmond all three times he’s come to plate and sat former Phillie Jayson Werth down twice.
This Cliff Lee obviously looks 100% different than the one we saw in Atlanta, when he didn’t get past the fourth inning and allowed 10 hits and six runs.
The only question now is whether Cliff can do what Halladay couldn’t last night, finish the complete game shutout…