• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Lee throws 3rd straight shutout, Phils top Sox

Jun 29, 2011 - 3:27 AM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Cliff Lee turned in his third straight shutout as Philadelphia silenced Boston, 5-0, in the opener of a three-game interleague set.

Lee (9-5) carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and gave up just two hits and two walks while fanning five, finishing June with a 5-0 mark.

The 32-year-old also set a new career high in consecutive scoreless innings, extending it to 32, and became the first Phils hurler since Robin Roberts in 1950 to throw three straight shutouts.

"Staying out of the heart of the (strike) zone. Using my breaking ball more. That's it. Gotten lucky quite a bit," said Lee when he was asked to what he can attribute this run of success. "We played a complete game today and in my last few starts. That's the key to winning. We've been doing that for a while. That's why we're in first place."

Domonic Brown and Shane Victorino both hit two-run homers for the Phillies, who have won five of their last seven.

The victory provided Charlie Manuel with his 594th as Philadelphia manager, tying him with Danny Ozark (1973-79) for third on the franchise list.

Josh Beckett (6-3) allowed five hits and five runs over six frames in defeat for the Red Sox, who have lost five of their last six.

"I felt all right. I pitched like (crap)," Beckett tersely admitted. "It seems like the flu gets me every year. If it doesn't get me in the offseason, it gets me in spring training or some other time. I think I should get it in the offseason so I don't have to deal with this anymore."

The loss left Boston manager Terry Francona -- Phillies skipper from 1997 to 2001 -- stuck on 699 wins with the BoSox.

A solid single to begin the sixth by Marco Scutaro ended Lee's no-hit bid, but he was erased as Beckett grounded into a 6-3 double play and Jacoby Ellsbury grounded out.

The Phillies' lead then swelled to 5-0 in the home half, as Placido Polanco singled, advanced on a sacrifice bunt and came in when Victorino reached the seats in right for a two-out homer.

Lee also shook off a leadoff walk to Dustin Pedroia in the seventh, getting Adrian Gonzalez on a flyout and inducing an inning-ending double play from Kevin Youkilis.

Darnell McDonald's leadoff double in the eighth was the first Boston runner to reach second but the visitors failed to score. Shortstop Jimmy Rollins corralled a Jason Varitek laser to short, Mike Cameron fanned looking and Scutaro grounded to third.

Lee capped his phenomenal outing by fanning pinch-hitter Drew Sutton swinging, getting Ellsbury on a grounder to third and forcing Pedroia into a soft liner to third.

"He was in command of the game from start to finish. One of the best pitchers in the game and he's riding a hot streak. That's a bad combination (for us)," Francona said of Lee. "He had his way with us."

The home team provided their starter with all the runs he needed in the second inning. Victorino reached on a fielder's choice, advanced on an error, then scored on Brown's two-out blast to right-center.

"It was a fastball..a two-seamer in...ran back over the plate," Brown said. "I know I hit it pretty good (but) you never know with Jacoby (Ellsbury) out there. He might climb the wall."

It was 3-0 for the home team in the fifth as Brown led off with a double, moved up on a Carlos Ruiz flyout and scored when Lee lofted a ball to left.

The fiery left-hander's lone blemish through the first five innings came when Youkilis drew a leadoff walk in the second. He recovered to retire the next 12 batters.

Game Notes

Lee finished the month with just one earned run on his ledger in 42 total innings...Grover Cleveland Alexander set the Phillies' all-time scoreless innings record at 41 2/3 frames in 1911. Larry Andersen is next with 33 in 1984...Lee now has 24 career complete games, and nine career shutouts, along with four complete games this season...Prior to the game, the Phils placed reliever Ryan Madson on the 15-day disabled list with a right hand contusion...The move is retroactive to June 19 and the team selected the contract of right-hander Andrew Carpenter from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to fill the roster spot...The Sox activated right-handed pitcher Bobby Jenks and left- handed pitcher Franklin Morales from the 15-day disabled list, and optioned right-handed pitcher Scott Atchison to Triple-A Pawtucket.