Cliff Lee Continues His Postseason Struggles, Coughs Up Big Lead

If Ryan Howard sent a message to the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday with his titanic home run, the Cards sent their own back on Sunday by beating the Philadelphia Phillies and Cliff Lee, heading home with the series tied at one win a piece.

Cliff Lee was a prized free agent last offseason and he surprised most by quickly signing with Philadelphia when he was being courted by many teams, including the New York Yankees.  Lee obviously had enjoyed pitching in Philadelphia in 2009 where he enjoyed significant postseason success.

Philadelphia had given Lee a four-run lead to work with and he would make it hold up until the sixth inning.  The Cardinals then showed the fight that got them in to the postseason in the first place.  They scratched and clawed back into the game and chased Lee from the mound by taking a lead that they would not relinquish.

Heading into the 2010 World Series against the San Francisco Giants, Cliff Lee had solidified himself as one of the best postseason pitchers in recent history and there was nothing to suggest that he would not continue his dominance.  Before his Game 1 start in San Francisco last year, Lee had compiled a postseason record of 7-0 with a 1.26 ERA in 64.1 postseason innings pitched.

Including the 2010 World Series Game 1 start, Lee is now 0-3 with a 7.13 ERA in three games and 17.2 innings pitched since that fantastic start to his postseason career.

Philadelphia had hoped that his performance in the 2010 World Series was an aberration and he would be one of four ace caliber pitchers that teams would have to deal with once the postseason came along.  Yesterday he showed that his recent big game struggles are a serious concern.  A pitcher like Lee has to be able to make a four-run lead hold up, especially in the postseason when wins are so crucial.

Lee's inability to shut down the Cardinals has now put his team in a best of three series with St. Louis with two games at Busch Stadium starting Tuesday.