Cliff Lee is a bad, bad mother when it comes to pitching the playoffs.
Once again, he went the distance in a postseason start as the Rangers knocked off the Rays 5-1 in the decisive Game 5 of the ALDS. With the win, Texas advances to the ALCS to face the Yankees. With the loss, Tampa now advances to its couch to watch the Rangers take on the Yankees.
Lee scattered six hits over nine innings while striking out 11 and walking zero batters. With his 11 Ks, he now owns the ALDS record with 21 strikeouts, surpassing the previous total of 16 held by the Big Unit (1995, 1997) and Mike Mussina (1997). Because he had to pitch on Tuesday night, he likely won’t start until Game 3 of the ALCS, while C.J. Wilson will start Game 1 and Colby Lewis Game 2.
The Rangers and Yankees split eight games during the regular season, which including a three-game sweep for Texas at home in September. Lee has beaten the Bronx Bombers twice in the postseason already, with both of those wins coming in the World Series last year.
And whether or not he beats them in the ALCS, he’ll likely be in pinstripes by December. He’s a free agent at the end of the year and Brian Cashman probably has wood just thinking about signing Lee to a seven-year, gazillion dollar contract.
