Last-Chance Lee
Cliff's ready for the clutch game of his career
By KAREN ARAIZA
Updated 10:00 AM EST, Mon, Nov 2, 2009
The "Un-be-LEE-vable" Cliff Lee takes the mound Monday night in Game 5 to save the series for the Phillies. His approach is simple:
"It boils down to making pitches," Lee said after the Phils lost Game 4, literally one strike away from the team having a chance to win it and tie the series.
Lee went up against friend and former teammate CC Sabathia in Game 1 and in Game 5 he'll face another friend – A.J. Burnett.
"We've met each other over the years and became friends and stuff, it's not very often that two guys from Arkansas make it to the big leagues and then square off against each other…it's gonna be a neat experience," Lee said.
The two talked briefly before Game 3 on Saturday.
"He congratulated me on how I threw Game 1, I congratulated him on how he threw Game 2."
Burnett, like Sabathia, comes off short rest -- three days. Lee is starting fully rested, with a routine four days. There was a lot of talk before and especiallly after Game 4 about whether the Phils should have brought Lee back on short rest against Sabathia Sunday night. Lee said he told Charlie Manuel he thought he could do it.
"I told him I would pitch whenever he wants me to pitch."
Lee said he feels as good now as he's felt all season and with the Yankees leading the series 3-1, he's ready for the clutch game of his career.
"It's about making pitches, mixing speeds, you know, being unpredictable, stuff like that...I keep things as simple as that. I don't overcomplicate or over think."
First Published: Nov 2, 2009 6:54 AM EST
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