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Lee stifles Yankees, Philly takes 1-0 lead
Philly left-hander Cliff Lee continues his historic postseason with Game 1 gem
by: Andrew O'Brien | Email: aobrien7@gmail.com
It all came into perspective for fans across the world in the sixth inning Wednesday night in the first game of the 2009 World Series. Yankee’s left fielder Johnny Damon hit a broken-bat popup back towards the mound. In most instances, infielders would sprint in to record the out, but not this time. Lee stood on the mound, and as the infielders stayed away, Lee watched the looping ball fall into his glove. It was an out, but a very interesting one at that. Lee hardly moved. He stood flat-footed and caught the ball basket style on the heel of his glove. It was as if he was having catch with his 8-year-old son, not making a crucial out in his first-ever World Series start, and guiding the Phillies to a 1-0 series lead.
“When he caught that ball, I was just, like, wow. I mean WOW,” said Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard. “He was just so, I don’t know, nonchalant.”
For 31-year-old Cliff Lee, things are different. Barely perspiring an ounce of sweat, Lee swiftly struck out 10 Yankees over nine innings of six-hit baseball in a zero-earned-run shutout.
“Being cool or whatever, I’ve always been that way,” Lee said. “This is the same game I’ve been playing my whole life, and this is the stage I’ve wanted to get to from a little kid. Now that I’m here, I’ve already put the work in. There’s no sense in being nervous and worried. It’s time to go out there and let my talents and skills take over and execute pitches.”
Lee’s talents and skills did take over. In fact, they took over so much that he ‘nonchalantly’ pitched his way into the history books.
-- Lee became the first left-handed starter to beat the Yankees in Yankee Stadium in Game 1 of a World Series since 1963, when Sandy Koufax beat Whitey Ford.
--Lee also became the first starting pitcher ever to throw a no-earned-run complete game against the Yankees in an opener of any of their 67 postseason series.
--And last, but most impressive, Lee became the first pitcher ever to hurl a 10-strikeout, no-walk game in a World Series start in which he allowed no earned runs. And, not only did he do it against the Yankees. He did it in Yankee Stadium.
Since the Phillies acquired Lee, they have won 12 of his 16 starts, including his first ever start when he pitched a complete-game four-hitter in San Francisco.
But on this night, a night when he struck out Alex Rodriguez three times, and Mark Teixeira and Jorge Posada twice each, something even larger stood out. Rodriguez only struck out three times in his previous 30 postseason plate appearances.
That’s not even the surprising stat. Lee got Derek Jeter to swing-and-miss on strike three with just the third pitch of the game and, 118 pitches later, Posada was fanned with a breaking ball that started 5 inches out of the strike zone and was caught at Posada’s feet.
Lee became the first pitcher in 26 years to throw a complete game where he struck out the first and last batter of the game.
Just when everyone thought Lee’s defense couldn’t get any more attention-grabbing, he silenced the naysayers in the eighth inning on a comebacker off the bat of Robinson Cano. The one-hopper was hit right back towards Lee and he reached behind his back with his glove hand to snatch the ball out of the air, then he turned around and tossed Cano out.
“When he made that one, I gave him a little fish eye, and he gave me a little fish eye right back,” said shortstop Jimmy Rollins. “Then he shrugged, like ‘I don’t know.’ And I looked at him and said, ‘Yeah. Exactly.’”
And with Lee’s brilliance on the mound, all he needed was two bombs from second baseman Chase Utley, who hit both off CC Sabathia.
The Phillies faithful aren’t complaining. What Cliff Lee and the Philadelphia Phillies did Wednesday night wasn’t supposed to happen. Not to these Yankees. Especially not in Yankee Stadium.
On a night of upsets, Lee was coming into the night in the shadows of Yankees ace CC Sabathia. And the Phillies, despite being defending World Champions, came into the game as underdogs to the Bronx Bombers.
Lee has now pitched 33 1/3 postseason innings in his career and has given up a total of two earned runs. Posting a 0.54 ERA is unheard of, especially with Mariano Revera’s almost untouchable 0.77 ERA
One big question still lingers. Lee was originally slated to pitch Game 4 on Sunday in Philadelphia. Will his manager Charlie Manuel run him back out there after throwing 122 pitches?
Stay tuned.
ESPN.com was used for statistical information in this article.
