Masterpiece

Wow....that is the easiest way to describe Cliff Lee's first ever postseason start. Cliff Lee's performance was amazing to watch. If Lee had some postseason jitters, you couldn't tell from the way he pitched. Lee pitched a complete game, giving out one run on six hits, five strikeouts and no walks. At one point, Lee retired 16 batters in a row, simply amazing. Lee was even one out away from a complete game shutout. When asked after the game, if at any point during the game he took a step out and soaked in the fact the he was pitching in the postseason for the first time, Lee said "It was in the ninth inning, right before I gave up that double in the gap, so I wish I wouldn't have done that," Lee said. "I wanted to give myself a chance to really absorb it and take it all in. Maybe it cost me a run, but we still won so that's the bottom line." In addition to his great pitching, Lee found got himself a hit and a stolen base. That stolen base was one of two historical Phillies moments that took place. Lee's stolen base was the first postseason stolen base by a Phillies pitcher in the history of the franchise. The crowd of 46,452 who witnessed Lee's gem, we all a part of the largest attendence in the short history of Citizen's Bank Park. The crowd was so taken by Lee, that "Let's Go Phillies" and in the bottom of the 9th "Yankees Suck" was replace by "Let's Go Lee." See for yourself.





In addition to Lee's pitching, the bats came alive, but not in a way Phans are accustom to. The Phillies score five runs and none were as a result of a home run, very unusual for the team let led the National League in home runs. But despite the lack of the long ball, the Phightin' Phils knocked around 12 hits and every player in the lineup got a hit.

Hopefully the Phillies have set the tone for the postseason. Great pitching, clutch hitting and speed on the base paths. Jimmy Rollins said it best after the game, "Finally, it's here," "We can finally let the wins actually count for something. You win, it's one less game you have to win to go to the next round. One down, 10 more to go." That's right Jimmy only 10 more to go. This will be another exciting October in Philadelphia thanks to the Phightin' Phils.

Road to a Repeat, Let's Go Phightin' Phils!