Times wires
Saturday, May 21, 2011
PHILADELPHIA — Cliff Lee pitched eight dominant innings against the team he led to the World Series last season, Ryan Howard hit a solo homer and the Phillies beat the Rangers 2-0 Saturday night.
Lee, who earned his first win since April 14, helped Texas capture the first AL pennant in franchise history after joining in July. But he turned down more money from the Rangers and Yankees to return to Philadelphia.
Rangers starter Colby Lewis was solid for 62/3 innings but got no support from an offense that has 11 runs in the past five games. Texas is 1-4 in that span.
Howard snapped a career-worst 0-for-23 slump when he connected to give the NL East-leading Phillies a 1-0 lead in the second. He ripped a 1-and-1 fastball a few rows deep in right.
Fans got a scare in the third when Lewis led off with a liner off Lee's back. The ball caromed to shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who threw out Lewis. Lee waved off the trainer when he ran out to the mound and didn't even take a warmup pitch.
Lee was back to himself after walking a career-high six in his last start. He struck out the side on 10 pitches in the fifth and walked two.