Cliff Lee came so close to that third win tonight. So close.
Cliff Lee struck out the side in the bottom of the first inning. You know, a strikeout, another strikeout, two solo home runs, and another strikeout. The solo homers went to Ryan Braun and Aramis Ramirez, the Phillies killers from the previous Brewers-Phillies series at home.
In the top of the third, Ryan Howard reached on a force attempt which allowed Jimmy Rollins to score. Earlier in the inning, Rollins stole second and third. 2-1 Milwaukee.
Ryan Braun homered to right center to kick off the fourth inning, pushing his team's lead to 3-1.
Kevin Frandsen would erase that lead and take one of his own with a bases-clearing double in the fifth inning. Ryan Howard singled, Domonic Brown walked, and Laynce Nix singled to get on base for Kevin. 4-3 Phillies.
Cliff Lee tonight went a magnificent 7 & 2/3 tonight. He allowed three runs (all solo homers) on five hits, walking none and striking out twelve. My goodness, Clifton. He tossed 111 pitches, 82 for strikes. He was in line for the win until…
Josh Lindblom had the bases loaded behind him with two outs when Corey Hart brought everyone home with a grand slam. It was just out of the reach of Dom Brown in right-center field. 7-4 Brewers.
And that would be it. The Phillies couldn't come back in the ninth, and dropped the first game of this four-game series to the Brewers. Tomorrow night at 8:10, Vance Worley and Yovani Gallardo will square off.
