Howard's Bat, Lee's Arm Beat Dodgers 3-1
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Cliff Lee hit double-digit strikeouts for the sixth time this season, fanning 10 in seven shutout innings and leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night.
Lee (5-5) bounced back from one of his worst starts of the season with one of his best. He allowed seven hits and walked only one, while continuing to strike out batters at a career-best rate. He has 15 career games with double-digit strikeouts - six this season.
Lee even shook off a liner to the shin in the seventh. He was fine and so were the Phillies in their first game back after a disappointing 4-5 road trip.
Antonio Bastardo tossed a scoreless eighth. Ryan Madson allowed Andre Ethier's RBI groundout in the ninth before finishing for his 13th save.
Lee allowed seven runs and walked three in 5 1-3 innings the last time out in a loss against Washington. He briefly pitched as if more of the same was on the way when he allowed consecutive singles to open the game.
Lee got Marcus Thames to hit into a double play and struck out Thames with two runners on to end the fifth that quashed the Dodgers' only two scoring threats.
Lee didn't have much support, but he had just enough for the win.
He frustrated Casey Blake to the point that the Dodgers first baseman was tossed in the sixth after arguing a called strike three. It was the second time Blake struck out.
Relying on his curve, Lee threw 59 strikes out of 88 pitches. Lee's lone walk gave him 20 on the season - two more than his total for all of 2010 combined with Seattle and Texas.
Jerry Sands knocked one off Lee's left shin in the seventh. He immediately brushed off the Phillies trainers and stayed in the game to a huge ovation from the second-largest regular-season crowd in Citizens Bank Park history
The Phillies scored both runs in the third off Ted Lilly (4-5). Wilson Valdez doubled to lead off the inning and scored on Placido Polanco's single. Ryan Howard ripped an RBI single to right later in the inning for a 2-0 lead.
Lilly struck out four and allowed five hits in six innings.
Carlos Ruiz's RBI double off the left field wall against Mike MacDougal in the eighth made it 3-0.
The Phillies played again without shortstop Jimmy Rollins, out with a bruised right knee. Rollins, who had an MRI earlier in the day, has soreness and swelling and should miss another game or two.
He fouled a ball off his right knee against Pittsburgh on Saturday and was taken out of the game by the bottom of the third.
NOTES: Former major leaguer Tom Gordon was at the game to support his son, Dodgers shortstop Dee Gordon. Gordon, a speedy prospect, had his contract purchased Monday. He made his major league debut as a pinch runner and scored in the ninth. ... The Dodgers also activated Thames, RHP Blake Hawksworth and INF Juan Uribe off the 15-day disabled list. Jay Gibbons and Juan Castro were designated for assignment. The Dodgers also optioned Ivan De Jesus and John Ely to Triple-A Albuquerque. ... Phillies RHP Brad Lidge felt discomfort in his right elbow during a bullpen session Monday morning. Lidge will return to Philadelphia to meet with team doctor Michael Ciccotti on Tuesday. Lidge has been sidelined all season because of shoulder issues.
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