Major League Baseball

Phillies blast Reds as Lee picks up win

Published May. 26, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

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Hours after a Phillies batter won a game as a pitcher, Cliff Lee's offense lifted Philadelphia to another victory.

It was a bizarre two days and 28 innings.

Lee drove in three runs with a bases-loaded double and a single, and worked eight effective innings, leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a 10-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday afternoon.

''He has a strong swing,'' Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. ''When you can swing the bat, it means a lot. You can really help yourself.''

Lee helped himself in series finale after Wednesday's 19-inning marathon that ended at 1:19 a.m., after 6 hours, 11 minutes and 600 total pitches, as both teams were playing with little rest.

Raul Ibanez hit a three-run homer for the Phillies, who took three of four from the Reds.

Every Phillie had at least one hit, including Chase Utley, who is 2 for 14 since returning from the disabled list earlier this week.

The Phillies' offense gave Lee a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Ryan Howard doubled in Michael Martinez with two outs.

Howard was intentionally walked in the fourth inning with two outs and a runner on second, but Ibanez hit an 0-2 pitch for a home run. Ibanez is batting .361 (30 for 83) since snapping an 0-for-35 skid.

The Reds cut it to 4-2 in the fourth on Paul Janish's two-run single that scored Miguel Cairo and Jay Bruce.

Bruce tied the game with a two-run homer to right in the sixth inning. The shot was his National League-leading 14th of the season. Bruce has batted .486 with six homers and 14 RBIs during an eight-game hitting streak.

Reds starter Homer Bailey allowed four runs and five hits and a walk in four innings, and left the game with right shoulder spasms suffered during a fourth-inning at-bat.

''He had some discomfort swinging the bat reaching for a ball,'' Reds manager Dusty Baker said. ''His velocity was down a little after that. We'll get him checked, but I don't think it's serious.''

Lee (4-4) threw 114 pitches in eight innings. But his biggest contributions came at the plate.

With the game tied at 4, the Phillies loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth inning against Daryl Thompson (0-1), who had made his major league debut an inning earlier.

After a walk to catcher Dane Sardinha, Lee huddled briefly with Manuel to discuss a strategy that went something like ''get a hit.''

Lee hit a first-pitch double over the head of center fielder Drew Stubbs. It bounced over the fence for a ground-rule double.

''First-pitch fastball,'' Lee said. ''I was looking for something out over the plate that I could put a good swing on. That was it. Getting a hit here or there can usually make a huge difference. Today, I was able to help the team win.''

An inning later, Lee's single up the middle scored John Mayberry Jr. He became the first Phillies pitcher to drive in three runs since Cory Lidle on Sept. 4, 2004, against the Mets.

''This game is crazy,'' first baseman Ryan Howard said. ''You never know what you're going to see. You're going to have those hard and crazy games, and you're going to get things that you never encountered.''

Howard joked that the Phillies season is actually 163 games now, thanks to the 10 extra innings played on Wednesday night.

That game included infielder Wilson Valdez becoming the first player to start a game in the field and later earn the win as a pitcher since Babe Ruth on Oct. 1, 1921. He received a standing ovation when he batted in the second inning.

With little sleep, Manuel juggled his lineup, resting Jimmy Rollins and Placido Polanco, but starting Ibanez, Howard and Valdez.

Were the Phillies tired?

''You just kind of ignore it,'' said Ibanez, adding that he got about four hours of sleep.

Asked if he might feel it later tonight, Ibanez smiled.

''I'll probably just ignore it then, too.''

Notes: Phillies right-hander Jose Contreras, activated from the 15-day disabled list before the game, worked a scoreless ninth inning. ... OF Shane Victorino (right hamstring) is scheduled to begin a rehabilitation assignment on Saturday with Class A Lakewood. He is also scheduled to play there Sunday. ... Reds utility player Miguel Cairo batted cleanup for the first time this season. ... RHP David Herndon was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to make room for Contreras. The Reds placed Matt Maloney on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Tuesday, with a strained left oblique muscle.

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