Phils Fall to Pirates as Lee Gives Up Three

The Phils avoided the shut out but weren’t able to muster up enough of a come back in the ninth, as they lost to Pittsburgh, 3-2. Cliff Lee started the game and gave up three runs on two homers — to Starling Matre and Jake Fox — in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked one.

Kyle Kendrick relieved him in the fifth and pitched the rest of the game without giving up and runs, hits, or even walks. He did hit a batter, though. Kendrick has looked strong this Spring.

On the other side, Kevin Correia started for the Pirates and gave up just one hit in four innings–the Phils couldn’t find an answer to him.

At the plate, the Phils recorded two runs on six hits, with both runs coming in the ninth–one on a sacrifice fly and the other on a groundout. No Phillies batter had more than one hit, and Hunter Pence

and Pete Orr struck out twice.

On a positive note, Scott Podsednik and Juan Pierre played the entire game and swiped a bag apiece in their quest to secure the final outfield spot. Pierre finished 0-for-4 with a walk and Pods went 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.

The Phils play a split Blue Jays squad tomorrow at 1:05 PM, with Vance Worley getting the start against Brandon Morrow.