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Lee, Phillies blank Nats to take series

Apr 15, 2011 - 7:03 AM Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Cliff Lee threw a three-hit shutout and Carlos Ruiz ended Jordan Zimmermann's bid for a perfect game in the sixth with a solo homer as the Phillies topped the Nationals, 4-0, to win the rubber match of a three-game set.

Lee (2-1) threw 99 pitches while striking out 12 batters, one shy of a career- high, as the Phillies improved to 9-3, winning all three series this season. Lee also recorded the 21st complete game of his career and sixth shutout.

"I was pretty much putting the ball where I wanted to most of the time," Lee said.

Ruiz finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while both Placido Polanco and Jimmy Rollins added an RBI.

Zimmermann (1-2) went seven-plus innings, allowing four runs -- one earned -- on five hits while striking out four. Daniel Espinosa had a double for Washington, which has dropped three of five.

Lee's complete game comes one night after Roy Halladay had a shutout going through eight innings until Washington added two runs in the ninth, however the Phillies held on to top the Nationals 3-2, giving Halladay his 59th career complete game.

Lee sat down the first six batters he faced until Espinosa led off the third inning with a double to right center that bounced off the outfield padding. Espinosa then moved to third on a Jerry Hairston Jr. fly to center, and was tagged at home when he tried to advance on a Zimmerman grounder to short. Lee then struck out Ian Desmond looking to end the frame.

Wilson Ramos led off the fifth with a single to left, but after Mike Morse struck out swinging, Ramos was caught stealing second. Espinosa popped out to short to end the frame.

Zimmermann retired the first 15 batters he saw, until Ruiz led off the sixth inning with his second homer of the season, into the left field flowerbed, recording the Phillies first hit and putting them up 1-0.

"I just made that one mistake to Ruiz," Zimmermann said. "That was pretty much the game."

Shane Victorino then hit a two-out double into the left field corner, and after Polanco hit a sharp grounder to third, Hairston Jr. overthrew first base, allowing Victorino to score as Polanco was granted second base. Rollins popped out to left to end the rally.

Both pitchers threw a hitless seventh, and the Phillies proceeded to chase Zimmermann from the game in the eighth. Ruiz and Wilson Valdez hit consecutive singles to begin the frame, and Lee loaded the bases after Espinosa bobbled a grounder to second.

Zimmermann was pulled for Nationals closer Drew Storen, however, he did not fare any better. After fanning Victorino, Polanco scored Ruiz on a fielder's choice and Valdez scored on a Rollins single. Storen was then pulled for lefty Doug Slaten.

Slaten then froze Ryan Howard on a called third strike to end frame.

Lee recorded his only walk of the game, allowing Ramos to take first to begin the eighth. The Phillies hurler stranded Ramos as he then sat down the Nationals' 6-7-8 batters in order to get out of the inning.

Pinch-hitter Jesus Flores singled to begin the ninth but consecutive fly-outs by Desmond and Rick Ankiel brought up former Phillie Jayson Werth, who grounder into a fielder's choice to end the game.

Game Notes

Lee rebounded after begin charged for six runs and 10 hits in only 3 1/3 innings in the Phillies' 6-3 loss to Atlanta on April 8...The last time Philadelphia had consecutive complete games was May 11-12, 1999 when Paul Byrd and Curt Schilling both went the distance against the St. Louis Cardinals...Lee's last regular season complete game as a Phillie came against the Nationals on September 15 2009, Philadelphia won 5-0.