The Philadelphia Phillies signed Cliff Lee to a big free-agent contract before the 2011 season, reasoning that they needed one more ace pitcher in addition to Roy Halladay to keep them going to the postseason.
Cliff Lee Throws Fifth Shutout In Phillies Win Over Giants
Lee has not disappointed; Thursday night he threw his major league leading fifth shutout of the season and the Phillies won their seventh in a row, defeating the Giants 3-0.
Lee’s season has been streaky; he threw three straight shutouts in June, posting a 0.21 ERA during the month and at one point throwing 34 consecutive scoreless innings. But in July, he struggled, posting a mediocre 4.91 ERA and winning just once.
August appears to have ended those troubles, at least for now; he threw 106 pitches (76 strikes) and allowed the Giants just six singles and a double, walking no one and striking out eight.
Lee joins CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Dontrelle Willis as the only pitchers since 2000 to throw five shutouts in a single year. If he throws one more, he would become the 13th pitcher since 1981 to have six or more in one season; John Tudor of the Cardinals had the most in a single year since 1981, 10 in the St. Louis NL pennant year of 1985.
The Phillies, who hold the best record in baseball at 72-39, will face the Giants again Friday night in San Francisco. Lee's next start should come up next Tuesday in Los Angeles against the Dodgers.
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