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Back at it, Phillies top Reds behind Lee

May 26, 2011 - 9:46 PM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Raul Ibanez hit a three-run homer and starter Cliff Lee added three RBI as Philadelphia downed Cincinnati, 10-4, in the finale of a four-game series.

Lee (4-4) didn't put together a classic performance, allowing 10 hits and four runs over eight innings. He did strike out eight, and finished 2-for-4 at the plate, including the go-ahead, two-run ground-rule double in the sixth.

"It was a real hot day, and I felt like he really battled. He had some trouble but he fought right through it," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said of his starter.

Michael Martinez knocked in two and Chase Utley hit a solo homer for the Phillies, who showed no ill effects from Wednesday's epic six-hour, 11-minute 5-4 victory in 19 innings, and took three of four in the set.

Jay Bruce hit a two-run homer and Paul Janish posted a two-run single for the Reds, who have lost eight of their last nine.

Cincinnati starter Homer Bailey departed after four innings with a right shoulder spasm, charged with five hits and four runs. Daryl Thompson (0-1) took the loss, torched for six hits and five runs with five walks over three frames.

"Any time you lose three out of four it's tough. We've kind of been exhausting every option to try and win," Bruce lamented. "When we get the hit, we can't hold the lead, and when we get the lead, we can't get a hit. It's a bad kind of back-and-forth."

Two walks and a single loaded the bases in the Philadelphia sixth, and Lee surprised everyone by slugging a ball that carried in the humid air until it one-hopped the wall in center and put the home team ahead by two. Martinez followed with a sacrifice fly to left and it was 7-4.

With men on first and second in the seventh, Lee dumped a single to center to score one run, then Martinez followed with a run-scoring base hit and the Phils led 9-4.

"I take (the hitting) seriously and try to make solid contact," Lee said of his plate prowess. "Getting a bunt down or a hit here and there can definitely make a big difference. Any time you do anything to help the team win you feel good about it."

In the eighth, Utley greeted Jose Arredondo with his first homer of the season, then Jose Contreras -- activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to the contest -- turned in a scoreless ninth to finish off the victory.

The Phils picked up a run in the first, as Martinez led off with a double, moved to third on a groundout from Utley and scored on Ryan Howard's double to right-center.

Domonic Brown doubled with one down in the third, then Howard was walked intentionally with two down and Ibanez crushed a pitch into the right-field seats for a 4-0 game.

Janish knocked in two runs on a bases-loaded single in the fourth, and in the sixth, Miguel Cairo stroked a leadoff double before Bruce tied the game with a two-run blast -- his NL-best 14th homer of the season -- to right-center.

Game Notes

Lee became the first Phillies pitcher to have three RBI in one game since Cory Lidle did so on September 4, 2004 against the Mets...Lee's last two-hit game happened on August 19, 2009 with the Phillies against the Diamondbacks...The Phils optioned pitcher David Herndon to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to make room for Contreras...Philly starting third baseman Wilson Valdez received a standing ovation during his second-inning at-bat for being the winning pitcher in Wednesday's contest...During the game, the Phils announced that outfielder Shane Victorino will begin a rehab assignment on Saturday at Single-A Lakewood...At the time of his home run, Bruce had gone deep in four of his last five, and five of his last eight plate appearances. He finished the series 9-for-21, with three homers and 11 RBI...Cairo finished 3-for-4 with two doubles and scored twice.