Cliff Lee put on quite a fielding display last night. His pitching wasn’t too shabby, either.
Lee was simply masterful in shutting down the Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series, powering the Phillies to a 6-1 win at stunned Yankee Stadium. But as dominant as the calm, cool and collected Lee was in throwing a complete game in his Fall Classic debut, his night will be remembered as much for his theatrical glovework as it will for striking out 10 and scattering six hits.
It was hard to tell which Lee defensive play inspired more smiles in Philadelphia and groans in The Bronx — his flat-footed, no-look basket catch of Johnny Damon’s pop-up in the sixth or his behind-the-back stab of Robinson Cano’s shot in the eighth.
As if showing up Damon wasn’t enough, Lee then mockingly patted Jorge Posada on the behind in the seventh after another unassisted fielding play.
AUDIO: Lee dominates the mound (Cliff Lee)
AUDIO: All about Cliff (Mark Teixeira)
Lee, the Phillies’ prized midseason acquisition, couldn’t have shown the Yankees less respect. Then again, the Bombers did virtually nothing against him to earn it.
“To be successful at this level, you’ve got to be confident,” Lee said. “You’ve got to go out there and think you’re going to get everybody out. I try not to be cocky, but I definitely have confidence — no doubt about it.”
The Phillies also couldn’t have drawn up a better road-opener pitching performance than the one Lee turned in while lowering his ERA to an eye-popping 0.54 through four postseason starts this year.
The Yankee hitters looked befuddled by Lee’s fastball and mix of sliders, curves and changeups as they failed to get a runner past second base until the ninth and mustered just one extra-base hit — Derek Jeter’s double in the third.
Alex Rodriguez — who couldn’t have been any hotter coming in — struck out three times and didn’t get the ball out of the infield in four at-bats against Lee.
Mark Teixeira also struck out twice as Lee showed up his close friend and former Indians teammate CC Sabathia.
While Sabathia was struggling, walking three in seven innings, Lee didn’t come close to issuing a base on balls.
“I wasn’t nervous at all,” said Lee, who was pitching on nine days’ rest. “It’s been a long time since I was nervous playing this game. It’s what I’ve been doing my whole life.”