Leegendary: Phillies 5, Giants 1

by dajafi on Aug 1, 2009 1:09 AM EDT Comment 11 comments

Now that's how to make a first impression: in his Phillies debut, Cliff Lee took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, pitched a complete game, banged out two hits, and scored a run as the Phils downed the San Francisco Giants Friday night.

Lee was, if anything, better than advertised, keeping Giants hitters off balance as he threw all four of his pitches for strikes. That superb command left him just once, at the start of the seventh inning after a long time in the dugout as the Phillies scored three runs. With the Phils up 4-0, Lee began that frame by walking Eugenio Velez on four pitches, then threw three more balls to fall behind Pablo Sandoval. A called strike, a foul, and a wild panda swing later, he'd notched his sixth strikeout and was on his way to escaping without damage. The Giants scored one run in the eighth when ex-Phil Aaron Rowand doubled (his 1000th career hit), advanced to third on an Edgar Renteria bunt try and came home on a Juan Uribe sacrifice fly; at only one other point in the game, Uribe's double in the sixth to break up the no-hitter, did they even advance a runner into scoring position. Lee ultimately allowed four hits and two hits, throwing 109 pitches on the night.

Early on, the Phillies looked poised to continue their own struggles with RISP. They stranded eight runners in the first six innings, scoring only once on a Jayson Werth solo homer in the second. But San Fran relievers Brendan Medders and Jeremy Affeldt loaded the bases in the seventh on two walks and a hit-by-pitch, then Affleldt walked Raul Ibanez on four pitches to force in a run. Werth followed with a two-run single, and Lee had some breathing room. He made it 5-0 an inning later, doubling to start the eighth, advancing to third on a Jimmy Rollins single and scoring on a deep sac fly by Ben Francisco, who smoked the ball all night long but had only one hit to show for it.

Joe Blanton looks to carry his superb July performance into a new month as he faces the other defending Cy Young Award winner, Giants ace Tim Lincecum, tomorrow night.

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I feel like when I was a kid and got a new pair of sneakers. I wanted to wake up early the next morning and put em on.

Cliff Lee now averages exactly 7 IP per start.

by Wet Luzinski on Aug 1, 2009 9:22 AM EDT reply actions

Last night i kept switching channels and playing some mlb 2k9 but i made sure i didnt miss a pitch from lee. After seeing him go hitless through 5 innins my jaw dropped. Made me so excited to have this guy on our team. If he wasnt pitching there was a greater chance we wouldnt have won that game. Those coaches looked very impressed as well. If the phillies bats get goin again, he probably will win the rest of his games this year. Welcome to Phil-lee.

by andyb on Aug 1, 2009 9:30 AM EDT reply actions

Raul has to lead the league in bases loaded walks, right?

by vfb on Aug 1, 2009 11:10 AM EDT reply actions

What a debut, maybe the best debut by a Phillie ever?? If not the best, certainly top 3-4.

by Philly_Mike_13 on Aug 1, 2009 11:13 AM EDT reply actions

Pitching Rich

Cliff Lee seems to be just what Charlie ordered – a “horse” who can go deep into games to spare a shaky bullpen. Nine innings – yeah, that’s deep! Still can’t understand why they bothered getting Pedro Martinez, though. Maybe someone can explain that move to me.

by Bwilderd on Aug 1, 2009 12:53 PM EDT reply actions

I read that they signed Pedro because they thought they’d have to trade Happ in getting an ace (Halladay).

He hit 93 last night and sat 89-91. When he gets his rhythm back, he’s going to help. The fact that he probably can’t go more than six innings was the reason I didn’t initially have much enthusiasm for signing him, but if Hamels is straightened out, Lee keeps going 7-plus and Blanton and Happ stay solid, Pedro as a #5 is a huge asset. And in the playoffs, maybe he pitches out of the bullpen, where he also could help.

by dajafi on Aug 1, 2009 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions

velocity was a pleasant surprise, and by his own account he wasn’t comfortable in the stretch, when he gave up most of his runs.

I could even see mixing and matching Martinez/Moyer at #5 given age/health and career records vs various teams. There’s no law that says you can’t carry six starters, and each of them would benefit with added rest in the second half of the season.

by Wet Luzinski on Aug 1, 2009 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I am pretty certain that if Pedro can make it in the bigs again we will move Happ back to the bullpen. He was very good there and we could really use another left arm with Romero iffy.

by Clyde Simmons on Aug 1, 2009 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Cleveland connection, career record, trade insurance, appeasing a field management staff clearly averse to using up-and-comers as opposed to ML vets in spot starts, a relatively low cost, a potentially high upside, an exhausted and injured bullpen, a familiarity with the NL East hitters, added fan interest, a quote machine, someone who can either get you to the playoffs, help in the playoffs, or eat up (at this point) late-season innings without rushing, exposing or exhausting organization’s top prospects or burning their service time.

Other than that, your guess is as good as mine.

by Wet Luzinski on Aug 1, 2009 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions