Cliff Diving: Braves 9, Phillies 1 (8)

by dajafi on Aug 29, 2009 11:34 PM EDT

All good things must come to an end, even Cliff Lee's initial reign of terror as a National Leaguer. The Phillies' ace was rocked by the Braves Saturday night, surrendered six runs, via three homers, in five innings as Atlanta evened the series with a rain-shortened blowout win.

The Phils struck first, as Chase Utley smashed a first-inning solo homer that almost reached the second deck. But they stranded five runners over the next two innings with some poor at-bats against laboring Braves starter Derek Lowe. Lee escaped one early jam in the second inning, but fell victim to an old adversary in the fourth when Garret Anderson reached him for a three-run homer--the first Lee had allowed in six starts with the Phillies. Anderson went 3 for 3 off Lee, improving to 10 for 20 against him lifetime. Matt Diaz, who's hitting that well against everybody right now, added a two-run shot later in the inning. Diaz is now an almost unfathomable 18 for 31 (.581) facing the Phillies in 2009, including four of his 10 home runs. Lee gave up another homer to Yunel Escobar, a solo shot, one inning later. Meanwhile, the Phillies blew more chances: they got ten additional hits after Utley's first-inning homer, including three straight singles to begin the seventh, but Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez left them there against Atlanta's Mike Gonzalez.

The series concludes Sunday night when Joe Blanton opposes Jair Jurrjens.

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Clif Lee: No Excuses

“Ballpark? Whatever,” Lee said. “I got hit today because I was throwing pitches down the middle. That had nothing to do with the ballpark. It was me throwing balls down the middle and them not missing them. They’re good hitters. The ballpark is an excuse. Yeah, maybe in another ballpark a couple of those would have been fly balls, but they weren’t. They were home runs. It’s my job not to throw the pitches where I did.”

Wouldn’t work on the Braves.

by EastFallowfield on Aug 30, 2009 6:39 AM EDT reply actions

turns out cliff lee is human. I’ll take 5-1.

by Bilzo on Aug 30, 2009 9:20 AM EDT reply actions

So What?

This isn’t telling me Lee isn’t a monster he is. He just proved he was human not a machine. I knew he was going to have a bad outing sooner or later I am crazy happy to have this way instead of CC ’s beating by us in the playoffs. He will bounce back. Man I hate the braves!!

I wasn't even a year old but I stayed up to be outside the Vet with my Dad and Mom when the Phillies won the World Series 1980.

by Christopher A on Aug 30, 2009 9:21 AM EDT reply actions

"I hate the braves"

What a classy comment. Just going on your maturity level, you can’t be a day over 13. I’m surprised you were allowed to stay up past your bed time, sore loser!

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

by HEYJUDE on Aug 30, 2009 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions

It is pretty annoying to have the Braves constantly bash Citizens Bank Park, which is actually a very nice stadium. If the Phillies players said stuff like “Well Turner Field is basically an High School Field” etc. I doubt you would have much love for them.

by Whack8888 on Aug 30, 2009 5:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Please ignore HEYJUDE. She imagines things.

by danielmobo on Aug 30, 2009 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions

By classy comment...

HEYJUDE means something along these lines…

“I have never read a game thread with as many whiny, pussy comments in all my life….”

http://www.thegoodphight.com/2009/8/14/989760/dutch-master-vs-phillies-blunt#19724545

by danielmobo on Aug 30, 2009 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Lee

It would be crazy to be concerned over his start last night. He was beaten primarily by a guy who’s 10 for 20 off him career (Anderson) and a guy whose purpose on this earth might well be to vex the Phillies, and is that-hot against everyone right now (Diaz).

That said, I hope one result of last night is to give Lee a start with Ruiz behind the plate. Granted that I’m not a Bako fan anyway (is anyone?), let’s at least see if there’s actually a problem with Chooch catching the ace, as I’d really prefer not to see Bako behind the dish for Game One of however many playoff series we get to.

by dajafi on Aug 30, 2009 11:59 AM EDT reply actions

Sampling error?

Jair Jurrjens in Citizens Bank Park:

2-0, 0.87 ERA, 0.823 WHIP

by danielmobo on Aug 30, 2009 2:10 PM EDT reply actions

Jair is due for some “normalizing”.

by doubleh on Aug 30, 2009 4:49 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

crikeys, that was a lot of hits for just one run.

Why does Raul Ibanez still have a spot in this lineup, much less 6th?

by Wet Luzinski on Aug 30, 2009 2:41 PM EDT reply actions

If i was Jurrjens or Blanton tonight

i wouldn’t throw a ball within 15 feet of Howard or Diaz. Those 2 guys hit everything they see.

Frank Wren for GM of the Year.

by Scott Coleman on Aug 30, 2009 5:29 PM EDT reply actions

I would agree with Diaz but I am not so sure about Howard. If there are guys on base, pitching around him is probably prudent, but if the bases are empty I wouldnt worry too much about him. He may hit a solo home run, but I believe he is more likely to strike out. With Diaz, he is hitting .500 + against the Phillies, and some other crazy figure for the last month, so it really doesnt make a whole lot of sense to pitch to him. The rest of the Braves line up, aside from last night, has not been doing too well, so walking him on base is probably not going to hurt that bad.

by Whack8888 on Aug 30, 2009 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions