Amazing Lee Dazzling in World Series Game 1

It
was a total domination by Cliff Lee against the New York Yankees in
World Series Game 1. The left handed pitcher, who was traded from the
Indians in July, pitched in a complete game with 80 strikes and 42
balls on Wednesday night.

Lee, who was a former Cleveland
Indian teammate and a close friend of Game 1 opponent CC Sabathia,
struck out two batters in the first and another two in the second
inning. He allowed an RBI, with extra base hit, for Derek Jeter in the
third inning.

But in the fourth inning Cliff Lee did nothing
but strike out all batters in the box: Teixeira, A-Rod, and Posada. All
three struck out at least twice. A-Rod was struck out thrice.

The Yankees scored in the bottom of the ninth, but it was on throwing
error of shortstop Jimmy Rollins. Lee allowed 6 hits, no walk, and 10
strike outs.

Besides the ten strikeouts and no runs, two of
Lee’s impressive performances include a waiting-in-the-mound catch for
Johnny Damon’s pop-up in the sixth inning and the behind-the-back catch
when Robinson Cano hit the second pitch in the eight inning.

A big smile painted on the pitcher’s face and a shrug showed how much fun it was for him to start the bottom of the eight.

The 2008 Cy Young awardee started his game with a strikeout and ended
it with another strikeout. Both strikeouts were to World Series
veterans Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada.

Cliff Lee did not just
secure the game for the Phillies, along with Chase Utley’s back to back
home runs, he also saved their bullpen. He now holds 3 starts with 3-0
wins in his 2009 post-season resume.
The defending champions beat the Bronx Bombers on 6-1 and now have a 1-0 lead in the 2009 World Series.

Also posted in Bleacher Report.