S(t)erling - Phillies 9, Mets 2

There is a fifth dimension, beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space, as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call The Twilight Zone. - Rod Serling

After six innings of normalcy, Cliff Lee and the Phillies were transported to an alternate dimension, where their perplexing inability to win ballgames was replaced with the overwhelming force of imagination, pounding out nine runs over the final three innings to secure Lee's first win of the season.

In the seventh, after six innings of being shutout by the Mets' Chris Young, Chase Utley smashed a two-run shot on a line drive to right, tying the game, and bringing Carlos Ruiz to the plate. Ruiz Now, a week ago, in Utley's first game of the season, he and Ruiz went back-to-back, in what turned out to be a losing effort. This time, the Phillies took the lead on Ruiz's homerun, and never looked back.

The Phils would add three more runs in the eighth, with an RBI double from Jimmy Rollins and RBI hits by Ruiz and Hunter Pence (after the Mets walked Ty Wigginton to pitch to Chase Utley...); and three more in the ninth, capped by a two-run homerun by Wigginton.

The real story, though, is Lee's win. Consider. It's July Fourth. Today's was the 83rd game of the season. Lee (who went 17-8 last year) is now 1-5. WTF. Twilight Zone indeed. Immediately after the game, Roy Halladay continued his rehab routine by dumping the Gatorade cooler on Lee's head.

Fangraph of Shadow and Substance:


Source: FanGraphs

With the win, the Phillies improve to 37-46; still last in the NL East, but perhaps this win is a harbinger of things to come. Who knows. There's a signpost up ahead... The rubber match of this three-game series is tomorrow night, as Cole Hamels takes the mound against R.A. Dickey.