Cliff Lee is having one of the best seasons in Indians' history while pitching for one of the most disappointing teams in Indians' history. Lee beat the Angels 3-2 Friday night to improve his record to 17-2.
No Indians pitcher has ever won 17 of his first 19 decisions, and Lee is now just three wins away from being the Indians' first 20-game winner since Gaylord Perry in 1974. Lee's big season has earned him more leeway from manager Eric Wedge, a fact that was evident Friday night. Wedge rarely lets any starting pitcher throw more than 105-110 pitches in a game. However, Wedge allowed Lee to finish Friday's game, and Lee wound up throwing 117 pitches.
Lee was at 103 pitches after the eighth inning. But given how good Lee has been and how bad the Indians bullpen has been this season, Wedge made the decision to let Lee come back out for the ninth inning.
Lee rewarded the faith shown in him by his manager by retiring the heart of the Angels lineup in order in the ninth, and still keeping his pitch count under 120.
INDIANS 3, ANGELS 2: LHP Cliff Lee pitched his third complete game of the season, improving his record to 17-2. 2B Asdrubal Cabrera drew a bases-loaded walk in the sixth inning to force in what became the winning run. SS Jhonny Peralta and OF Shin-Soo Choo had RBI hits to drive in the Indians' other runs.
