The Phillies were looking to shake off last night's loss to the Braves with Cliff Lee on the mound who has been looking as dominant as ever lately. All Cliff Lee would need is a bit of offense to back him up.
The Braves would score first this afternoon in the top of the second. David Ross took Cliff Lee deep to center for a solo home run.
In the third, Reed Johnson scored on a sacrifice fly from Dan Uggla. After those two runs scored, Cliff Lee settled in and engaged in a pitcher's duel with Tim Hudson.
The ballgame would remain 2-0 Braves until the sixth when the Phils got a run back. With Jimmy Rollins on second, Chase Utley popped up a sacrifice fly to a diving Jason Heyward which allowed Rollins to score. 2-1 Atlanta.
Through six innings, Tim Hudson had allowed just two hits to the Phillies while walking one and striking out three. Cliff Lee had given up two runs (one earned) on eight hits, walking one and striking out nine. On the nasty meter, Cliff Lee wins this battle.
Cliff Lee's afternoon was done after a brilliant eight innings. He struck out eleven and walked none, allowing just those two earned runs. He tossed 117 pitches total, 84 for strikes. His ERA is now down to 3.18.
Jonathan Papelbon came in for the top of the ninth with his team still down 2-1. Papelbon did his job, pitching a 1-2-3 ninth. Craig Kimbrel came in for the bottom of the inning, looking to send his team to a series victory. Kimbrel did as Kimbrel does, retiring the Phils in order to seal the deal. Phils drop this one, 2-1.
The Phils have the day off tomorrow before the Washington Nationals come to Citizens Bank Park for a three-game series. Cole Hamels will get the start against John Lannan.
