Chicago Cubs vs Philadelphia Phillies MLB Live Streaming Radio Commentary 5/11 Espn 360 Gamecast Review Links Power Ranking Ticket: When Cliff Lee took the mound earlier this week, he was looking to bounce back from one of his worst starts of the season against an opponent he has dominated throughout his career.
Lee tries to stay undefeated against the Chicago Cubs when these teams continue their four-game series in Philadelphia.
Lee (5-5, 3.62 ERA) had won two straight starts for the first time this season heading into his outing at Washington on May 31, but he allowed a season high-tying six runs in 5 1/3 innings of a 10-2 loss.
His next start proved to be much better, as he struck out 10 over seven scoreless innings to beat Los Angeles 3-1 on Monday. Including playoffs, Lee is 2-0 with a 0.40 ERA in three starts against the Dodgers.
His numbers versus the Cubs aren't so bad, either.
Lee is 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA in four starts against Chicago, pitching at least seven innings in each outing. He went the distance and struck out nine in an 8-1 win over the Cubs while with Seattle last June 23.
Strikeouts have been key for Lee in 2011. He is among the major league leaders with 100 and has six double-digit strikeout performances, the most for a Phillie since Curt Schilling had 15 in 1998.
Lee, whose career high for strikeouts was 185 last season, said he isn't trying for all these K's.
"Swinging and missing more," he said. "I'm trying to get them out as quick as possible. For whatever reason, it's kind of gone that way."
Lee may have a good chance to rack up some more strikeouts after the Cubs whiffed a season-high 12 times in a 7-5 loss Friday night. Chicago won Thursday's series opener 4-3 in 11 innings on a throwing error by third baseman Placido Polanco.
Philadelphia (38-26) took a 7-0 lead Friday, getting a grand slam from Polanco in the seventh inning, before the Cubs (25-37) scored five times in the eighth to make it close.
Matt Garza (2-5, 4.07) will be making his second start for Chicago since coming off the disabled list Monday following an elbow injury. He pitched that night in Cincinnati and allowed four runs, six hits and three walks over four innings of an 8-2 loss.
"Physically I felt fine," Garza said. "I was a little off. That's not what I wanted. I wanted to come with five or six strong (innings) and do what I usually do. I felt strong. I think it was just mainly 17 days of not facing a hitter."
Garza's first career start against the Phillies came in Game 3 of the 2008 World Series while with Tampa Bay. He didn't receive a decision in a 5-4 loss after giving up four runs -- three on solo homers -- over six innings.
The right-hander beat Philadelphia in June 2009, allowing one run and three hits over eight innings of the Rays' 7-1 victory.
Phillies left fielder Raul Ibanez is 4 for 9 with two homers and a double against Garza.
4:10 PM ET, June 11, 2011
Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Philadelphia Phillies' left-hander accomplished that feat, and on Saturday afternoon, he will get to face another team he's been successful at shutting down.Regular Season Series
Series tied 1-1 (as of Sat 6/11)
Thu 6/9 CHC 4, @PHI 3 Recap
Fri 6/10 @PHI 7, CHC 5 Recap
Jun 11, 2011 CHC (Garza) @ PHI (Lee) 4:10 PM ET
Jun 12, 2011 CHC (Davis) @ PHI (Oswalt) 1:35 PM ET
Jul 18, 2011 PHI @ CHC 8:05 PM ET
Jul 19, 2011 PHI @ CHC 8:05 PM ET
Jul 20, 2011 PHI @ CHC 2:20 PM ET
Lee tries to stay undefeated against the Chicago Cubs when these teams continue their four-game series in Philadelphia.
Lee (5-5, 3.62 ERA) had won two straight starts for the first time this season heading into his outing at Washington on May 31, but he allowed a season high-tying six runs in 5 1/3 innings of a 10-2 loss.
His next start proved to be much better, as he struck out 10 over seven scoreless innings to beat Los Angeles 3-1 on Monday. Including playoffs, Lee is 2-0 with a 0.40 ERA in three starts against the Dodgers.
His numbers versus the Cubs aren't so bad, either.
Lee is 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA in four starts against Chicago, pitching at least seven innings in each outing. He went the distance and struck out nine in an 8-1 win over the Cubs while with Seattle last June 23.
Strikeouts have been key for Lee in 2011. He is among the major league leaders with 100 and has six double-digit strikeout performances, the most for a Phillie since Curt Schilling had 15 in 1998.
Lee, whose career high for strikeouts was 185 last season, said he isn't trying for all these K's.
"Swinging and missing more," he said. "I'm trying to get them out as quick as possible. For whatever reason, it's kind of gone that way."
Lee may have a good chance to rack up some more strikeouts after the Cubs whiffed a season-high 12 times in a 7-5 loss Friday night. Chicago won Thursday's series opener 4-3 in 11 innings on a throwing error by third baseman Placido Polanco.
Philadelphia (38-26) took a 7-0 lead Friday, getting a grand slam from Polanco in the seventh inning, before the Cubs (25-37) scored five times in the eighth to make it close.
Matt Garza (2-5, 4.07) will be making his second start for Chicago since coming off the disabled list Monday following an elbow injury. He pitched that night in Cincinnati and allowed four runs, six hits and three walks over four innings of an 8-2 loss.
"Physically I felt fine," Garza said. "I was a little off. That's not what I wanted. I wanted to come with five or six strong (innings) and do what I usually do. I felt strong. I think it was just mainly 17 days of not facing a hitter."
Garza's first career start against the Phillies came in Game 3 of the 2008 World Series while with Tampa Bay. He didn't receive a decision in a 5-4 loss after giving up four runs -- three on solo homers -- over six innings.
The right-hander beat Philadelphia in June 2009, allowing one run and three hits over eight innings of the Rays' 7-1 victory.
Phillies left fielder Raul Ibanez is 4 for 9 with two homers and a double against Garza.