The question hovered over the Phillies through a troubling September, as their starting pitchers faltered and their lineup slept: Come playoff time, could they rediscover their swagger?
Supremely confident (or were they self-assured to a fault?) that they would succeed in a meaningful game when one arose, the Phils backed that attitude with an impressive effort today. They defeated the Colorado Rockies, 5-1, in Game 1 of the best-of-five National League division series. Cliff Lee, acquired in late July for just such a moment, pitched a complete game in his first postseason appearance.
And the Phils' offense, which strayed in recent months from its propensity to produce timely hits, bashed top-notch Colorado starter Ubaldo Jimenez.
"We pretty much knew all we had to do was close the season out" in September, said shortstop Jimmy Rollins. "Now, it feels like you're actually doing something."
Few Phillies suffered more last month than Lee. After winning his first five starts after the team acquired him from Cleveland on July 29, the lefthander was 2-2 in September, with an alarming 5.59 earned run average. Still, manager Charlie Manuel selected Lee as his Game 1 starter over proven playoff ace Cole Hamels. The decision proved wise.
"The difference I saw in Cliff's pitching today," Manuel said, "he has a fastball and cutter, and he was real good with both of them and he used them. He was aggressive. He had a big tempo and rhythm, and he had good concentration."
For most of August, Lee breezed through his starts, forcing games to operate at the brisk pace that he set. His pitches went where he wanted them to go, leaving opposing hitters clueless. Today, he reestablished what Manuel called a "flow."
Lee allowed six hits and struck out five. He walked no one.
"He handled the whole flow of the game pretty well," the manager said.
Through the first four innings, Jimenez appeared unhittable, mixing a fastball that reached 100 m.p.h. with a high-80s change-up and sneaky curveball. But he faltered in the middle innings.
"The guy we beat today has got a ton of talent," said a proud Manuel, whose mood rises and falls depending on the quality of his team's at-bats. "He's got a big-time arm. He's got tremendous stuff. I feel like we did a good job. We definitely created some chances and we took advantage of them."
Jayson Werth led off the fifth with a walk, and Raul Ibanez scored him with a double. Carlos Ruiz followed with a run-scoring single. The next inning, Werth's triple highlighted a three-run assault for a 5-0 lead.
The Phils collected four hits in 11 chances with runners in scoring position, enough to blow through Game 1.
"We know how to play the game, and our guys know how to move runners," Manuel said. "Sometimes they don't do it, but at the same time we know how, and when it's supposed to be done. And that's what execution is all about."
The result was a performance that pleased the Phillies and their fans, all parties eager for another World Series win.
With two outs in the ninth and many in the crowd chanting "Let's go Lee," the unfazed playoff neophyte blew a 93-m.p.h fastball by Garret Atkins for strike three. Lee and catcher Ruiz pumped their fists, and met between home plate and the mound to slap hands and hug.
It was just the first of the 11 victories needed to earn a second title, but today featured a championship-caliber performance from the entire team. "We seem to have a knack for doing that," said Rollins. "For finding hits when we most need them."
Contact staff writer Andy Martino at 215-854-4874 or amartino@phillynews.com.
