Lee is still winless

Associated Press Sports

updated 4:46 p.m. ET June 16, 2012

TORONTO (AP) - The Philadelphia Phillies found yet another way to cost Cliff Lee his first victory of the season.

Rajai Davis drove home the winning run with a two-out drive in the 10th inning that bounced over the wall and the Toronto Blue Jays rallied past the Phillies 6-5 Saturday, extending Lee's winless streak to 11 starts.

The Phillies, who have lost 11 of their last 14, fell to 1-8 in games decided in the final at-bat. Shortstop Jimmy Rollins also made a costly throwing error, the team's 14th miscue in 10 games.

"That's kind of how we play," exasperated manager Charlie Manuel said. "We find a way to lose the game."

John Mayberry Jr. hit a three-run homer, but Philadelphia couldn't hold on despite taking a 5-2 lead into the bottom of the eighth.

"We could have had more wins but we don't have them because we don't play good baseball," Manuel fumed. "Solidly, all around, we don't play good baseball. We've seen that quite a bit."

Philadelphia lost for the fifth time this season when leading after seven innings.

"We've been in good positions to win, that's what's hard to figure out," Manuel said. "We put ourselves in good positions but we can't get the job done."

Blue Jays shortstop Yunel Escobar hit a solo homer, finished with three hits and scored twice, including the winning run.

After Toronto scored three times in the eighth to make it 5-all, Escobar drew a leadoff walk in the 10th from Joe Savery (0-2). Escobar moved up on a balk, advanced to third on Mike McCoy's groundout and scored when Davis squared up an 0-2 pitch and hit a drive that hopped over the left-center field wall.

"It's always nice when you help the team win in dramatic fashion, especially being down 0-2, odds against me," Davis said.

By baseball's official scoring rules, Davis was credited with a single, even though balls bouncing over walls most often are ground-rule doubles. Since Escobar only had to advance one base to score, Davis' hit went as a single.

The Blue Jays' late rally denied Lee his first win of the season. The Phillies ace matched a season-high by allowing five runs and gave up a season-high 12 hits in seven-plus innings.

"They're a good offense," Lee said. "They hit some good pitches."

Lee has not won since a 4-2 win over Atlanta on Sept. 26, 2011, in his final start of the regular season. Lee then lost his only postseason start last year, a 5-4 defeat to St. Louis on Oct. 2.

"I can only control what I can control, I'm not going to get frustrated," Lee said. "Obviously I would like to have more wins. I would like for us to win more, period. What's the point in getting frustrated about it?"

Francisco Cordero (2-4) pitched one inning for the victory.

The Phillies opened the scoring in the first on back-to-back doubles by Placido Polanco and Hunter Pence off Ricky Romero. Toronto tied it in the second on Escobar's fourth homer.

Philadelphia reclaimed the lead with a two-out rally in the third. Shane Victorino and Ty Wigginton hit consecutive singles and Mayberry followed with his fourth home run.

The Blue Jays cut it to 4-2 in the bottom half when Davis singled, stole second and scored on a two-out base hit by Colby Rasmus.

Philadelphia made it 5-2 with a run in the eighth off reliever Robert Coello. Brian Schneider and Michael Martinez drew back-to-back walks and Rollins followed with a ground-rule double to right, with Martinez forced to stop at third.

The Blue Jays scored twice and chased Lee before an out was recorded in the bottom half. Jose Bautista led off with a walk and advanced to third on Edwin Encarnacion's single to left. The relay came to Rollins, whose ill-advised throw to second sailed into right field, allowing both runners to score.

"We take a lot of pride in playing defense, we've done it for years," Rollins said. "But this year, I don't know, it's been crazy."

"It's just fundamental baseball, things that we've done around here for years. That's kept us in a lot of games and helped us win a lot of games. It's like, right now, the exact opposite. It's almost like a hex or something."

Chad Qualls came on for Lee after Kelly Johnson followed with a single. Escobar popped out but pinch-hitter David Cooper snapped an 0-for-18 slump by chopping a single through the right side, sending Johnson to third. J.P. Arencibia followed with an RBI double down the third base line, snapping an 0-for-13 slump.

Romero allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings.

NOTES: Mayberry's father played for the Blue Jays from 1978 to 1982. ... Toronto placed RHP Drew Hutchison (sprained elbow) on the 15-day DL and recalled RHP Robert Coello from Triple-A Las Vegas. ... The Phillies recalled C Erik Kratz from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and optioned RHP B.J. Rosenberg to Triple-A. ... Philadelphia C Carlos Ruiz, who left Friday's game with a strained muscle in his left side, was feeling better Saturday and took batting practice before the game. ... Schneider, who started in place of Ruiz Saturday, was hit by a pitch twice. ... The game was briefly delayed in the top of the first when Phillies DH Jim Thome asked the grounds crew to add dirt to the left-handed batter's box.

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

advertisement

More news

Hot Yankees beat Nats in 14

Mark Teixeira hit a two-run double in the 14th inning Saturday as the New York Yankees won their eighth straight game, beating the Washington Nationals 5-3.

Hammel's 1-hitter lifts O's past Braves

ATLANTA (AP) - Jason Hammel pitched a one-hitter for his first career shutout, allowing only Jason Heyward's two-out single in the seventh inning, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Atlanta Braves 5-0 on Saturday night.

marfan syndrome marfan syndrome britney spears engaged craig smith craig smith eat to live eat to live