Lee, Manuel consider a Game 7 start

In a hurry to get 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 as quickly as he can.

Once again, Lee sprinted through the Yankees lineup in the Phillies' 8-6 win last 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, 2-0 in the World Series, with an ERA of 2.81. The Phillies trail the series, three games 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. But he's the kind of pitcher who can construct a victory without all his tools.

"I don't think my command was as good as it has been," he said. "I had to battle a little more than I had to the last few games. We won. That's the bottom line. I could care less as long as we win."

When Lee walked Nick Swisher in the first inning, it ended his postseason streak of 17 straight innings without a base on balls. The earned run he gave up in the first inning was his first since the sixth inning of Game 1 in the NL Division Series against Colorado.

Yet, 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.

For the most part, 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 Lee sets that also prevents some hitters from becoming comfortable at the plate.

This was never more evident last night than in the seventh inning, when the Yankees Jorge Posada tried to break the uptempo beat 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. Just as Lee began his windup on the next pitch, 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 manager Charlie Manuel, who absorbed some criticism for not bringing Lee back to pitch Game 4 on three days' rest, decides to start Lee if there's a Game 7 Thursday at Yankee Stadium.

After last night's game, Manuel indicated he would consider that.

"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 talk to [Lee] about what he thinks."

Lee already has an answer for Manuel.

"I'm available," he said. "I'll be ready to pitch whenever they want me to. If it will help the team win, I'm in."

Since Manuel is thinking about starting Lee for a Game 7, it might have been wise to pull him after the seventh inning, when the Phillies had an 8-2 lead.

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

Instead, he sent Lee out for the eighth inning. Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run double, and Lee, who threw 112 pitches, was relieved by Chan Ho Park.

Meantime, the Thursday night weather forecast for New York is snow showers with the temperature dropping into the mid-30s. A postponement to Friday would give Lee an extra day of rest. For the Phillies, that would be a blessing from above.

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