Cliff Lee threw his second straight complete game shutout as the Phillies took the second game of their series with Cardinals 4-0. Lee has now given up just one run in his last four starts (33 innings), giving him an ERA of 0.27 in June. The last Phillie toss back to back shutouts was Cory Lidle in 2004.
Amazingly enough, the last three pitchers to throw consecutive shutouts all happen to currently be in the Phillies rotation. Cliff Lee tonight, Roy Halladay in 2009 and Roy Oswalt in 2008.
The Phillies run tonight came mostly from the longball. Jimmy Rollins led off the fourth with a solo shot and Ryan Howard added a two homer to left later in the inning. Shane Victorino scored on a Chase Utley sac fly in the 9th for some insurance.
Former Phillie Kyle Lohse did a solid job for the Cards tonight giving up those three runs in the fourth, but holding the Phillies scoreless over the seven other innings he pitched.
The Phils will go for the sweep tomorrow night with Roy Oswalt facing Chris Carpenter.