Phillies starter Cliff Lee shut out the Braves through seven innings tonight, but an equally-dominating performance by Braves starter Kris Medlen and an eighth-inning solo home run by Chris Johnson left him the tough-luck loser. Lee struck out 13, walked none, and allowed just three hits over eight innings, but the Phillies’ offense just couldn’t figure Medlen out.
In 39 innings over five starts this September, Lee has compiled a 1.85 ERA with 54 strikeouts and one walk. It is the 48th time since 1901 a pitcher has struck out at least 54 batters in a month in five or fewer starts; the 12th time it has happened in September/October specifically. It is also the 62th time since 1901 that a pitcher has walked one or none in a month in at least five starts; the 17th in September/October specifically. Lee is the first to strike out 50-plus and walk one or fewer in a month.
Lee finishes the season 14-8 with a 2.87 ERA in 222.2 innings along with 222 strikeouts and 32 walks.