Cliff Lee matched the all time record for strikeouts in a game by a lefthander with 16, but it was not enough as the Derek Lowe and the Braves shut out the Phillies 5-0 to take the opener of the series at Citizens Bank Park.
Lowe actually carried a no hitter into the seventh inning, but appeared to injure himself during Shane Victorino’s at bat. After getting two strikes on the Phillies centerfielder, he limped off the mound in some sort of pain. He did not leave the game however, and promptly gave up two hits the Victorino and Polanco before Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez pulled him. Should Lowe end up on the DL from whatever it was, his performance could end as a Pyrrhic victory for Atlanta.
Despite k’ing 16, Lee was not without his struggles giving up nine hits and three runs over 7 innings. Still, you can’t say he was the problem tonight. As has been the case too often this season, the bats just went silent. Ryan Howard had a particularly rough night going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts and leaving three men on base.
It was the sixth straight win for the Braves who will send Jair Jurrens to the mound tomorrow night to face Kyle Kendrick.