Cliff Lee’s first spring training with the Phillies has been anything but smooth.
"Spring training has a completely different feel, you have to try to make it as much like a regular-season start as you can," Lee said. "Obviously the stats aren't as important, it's more important to get your body right and work on things, experiment with stuff to prepare for the regular season, but we're starting to wind down now. I need to start being more effective."
The lefty’s spring ERA jumped to 5.54 after he was tagged for five runs in four innings Thursday afternoon against Toronto.
"The first three innings went good, the last one, not so much so," Lee said. "But it was just getting behind in the count, that was the main thing there. I got behind, had to pitch more of the plate and they got hits. That happens."
Lee had only allowed one baserunner to reach second base in the first three innings. Lee allowed five runs -- three earned -- and seven hits in four innings. He has allowed six runs earned runs in his last two starts.
The Phillies prized off-season acquisition took the loss to drop to 1-2 in Grapefruit League play.
Phillies long reliever/spot starter Kyle Kendrick didn’t fair too well either allowing seven hits and two runs (one earned) in three innings of relief.
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Lefties Antonio Bastardo and Mike Zagurski both added to their campaigns to earn a bullpen spot by pitching scoreless innings. Zagurski gave up a hit but struck out the side in the ninth.
The Phillies bats came alive after their first day off of the spring.
Shortstop prospect Freddy Galvis hit a two-out, two-run home run to bring his team within a run in the bottom of the ninth.
Shane Victorino hit a two-run homer, his first of the spring, in the first inning of Blue Jays starter Jo-Jo Reyes. And utlityman Michael Martinez went 2-for-4 with a solo shot off Reyes in the fifth.
The 13-8 Phillies face the Pirates in Clearwater on Friday.
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