Lee to pitch Game 7?

Cliff Lee is always in a hurry.

In a hurry to go from the dugout to the pitchers mound.

In a hurry to go from the pitchers mound to the dugout.

Mostly, though, the Phillies lefthander is in a hurry to get the ball back from catcher Carlos Ruiz so he can throw another pitch quickly as he can.

Once again, Lee sprinted through the Yankees lineup in the Phillies 8-6 win Monday night at Citizens Bank Park, but he's clearly not in a hurry to see this World Series come to an end.

Lee raised his postseason record to 4-0 with two of those wins in the World Series. The Phillies still trail the series, three game to two.

Lee wasn't as dominant as he was in his 6-1 Game 1 victory, when he struck out 10 and walked none. He gave up a run in the first inning and four in the eighth, and he walked three. The innings between, he allowed two hits. He didn't have his typical command of his pitches, but he's the kind of pitcher who can adjust on the fly and fix things without all his tools.

Lee was good enough to keep the Phillies breathing as they attempt to become the first team to come back from a three-games-to-one deficit against the Yankees in a World Series. The Yanks are 9-0 after building a three-games-to-one lead in the World Series, and only one of those series - 1962 - was extended to seven games.

As usual when he's on his game, Lee worked both halves of the plate with his low fastball and mixed in curveballs, sliders and changeups that kept the Yankees off balance.

But it's the refreshingly quick pace to a game Lee sets that also prevents some hitters from becoming comfortable at the plate.

This was never more evident Monday night than in the seventh inning when the Yankees Jorge Posada tried to break the uptempo rhythm Lee had established. As Lee was preparing to deliver a pitch, Posada stepped out of the batter's box. A look of impatience crossed Lee's face. On the next pitch, and just as Lee began his windup, Posada tried to call time out, but home plate umpire Dana DeMuth would have none of it, and the pitch counted. On the next pitch, Posada struck out looking - and looking helpless.

The question now is whether or not manager Charlie Manuel, who absorbed some criticism for not bringing back Lee to pitch Game 4 on three days rest, decides to start Lee if there's a Game 7 Thursday at Yankee Stadium.

Following the game, Manuel indicated he will consider bringing back Lee for a Game 7. First, though, he'll discuss it with pitching coach Rich Dubee and Lee.

"What's that old saying? Spahn and Sain and pray for rain," Manuel said with a laugh. "We have an off-day [today] and maybe it'll rain. As it sits right now, the seventh game would be on his day to throw in the bullpen. I'll definitely talk to Dubee. I'll talk to [Lee] about what he thinks . . . if he can pitch at all."

It's not likely that Lee, an intense competitor, will decline the opportunity.

Yet, if Manuel was thinking about starting Lee for a Game 7, it seems it would have been wise to pull him after the seventh inning, when the Phillies had a 6-2 lead.

But after Monday night's game, Manuel made it clear he wasn't comfortable with the four-run lead, understandable considering the uncertain state of the Phillies bullpen.

"It would have to get a little bigger," Manuel said of the lead.

Instead, he sent Lee out for the eighth inning, and he ran into trouble, allowing a two-run double to Alex Rodriguez, who had three more RBI's and has 18 in 14 postseason games.

Lee threw 112 pitches before Chan Ho Park relieved him. Manuel said Lee has never pitched on three days rest and has pointed out that Lee has pitched a lot of innings, and he doesn't want to risk injuring him.

Also, there is this possible scenario: The forecast for New York Thursday night is for snow showers with the temperature dropping into the mid-30s. A postponement to Friday would give Lee an extra day of rest.

Contact staff writer Ray Parrillo at 215-854-2743 or rparrillo@phillynews.com.