Lee gets no-decision in Phillies 5-3 win against Cards in 10 innings

PBR - Cliff Lee did everything he could to get his first win of the season, from throwing a quality start on the mound to helping his cause offensively.

Even though that wait for the first victory will be longer for Lee, a good sign was the lineup deciding to show up late as the Phillies defeated St. Louis, 5-3, in 10 innings Friday night at Busch Stadium.

Lee allowed three runs on eight hits over seven innings of work, striking out seven and walking three in the no-decision. The lefthander might not have a win yet, but still holds a sub-3.00 ERA (2.82) and a WHIP of 0.96, both impressive numbers.

His most impressive play, though, might have been his ability to get the leadoff single in the top of the seventh, then later scoring the tying run on a double by Juan Pierre to pull the Phillies even at 3-3. The pitcher was perhaps the best hitter on the night for the Phillies, not a very good sign. Lee went 2-for-3 batting on the night.

In the 10th, Hunter Pence hit an opposite-field, two-run home run for his 11th of the season that proved to be the game-winner after closer Jonathon Papelbon slammed the door for his National League-leading 14th save.

Kyle Lohse made the start for the Cardinals (25-21), giving up two runs - one unearned - in 6 1/3 innings for the no-decision. 

Jose Contreras and the left-handed rookie Jake Diekman both came on to pitch a scoreless eight inning in relief of Lee, who seemed like he still had some left in the tank despite hurling 111 pitches.

Who could blame a guy trying to get his first win with little to no run support almost two months into the year?

Phils reliever Raul Valdes, a day after recording his first win with the Phillies, pitched the ninth inning and gets his second win after surviving a small jam that saw the winning run in scoring position.

Jimmy Rollins got things started for the Phillies (24-23) with a two-out single in the second inning that drove in Polanco before Pierre chopped one in the infield that was botch defensively, helping to score Galvis for a 2-0 lead.

Cardinals center fielder Shane Robinson doubled off Lee to plate Matt Adams to cut the lead in half at 2-1 in the bottom half of the inning.

After Cards shortstop Rafael Furcal hit a solo home run that just got over the wall (after further review) in the third to tie the game, Yadier Molina drove in David Freese to take the lead. Freese went 1-for-5, with his lone hit a triple off the center field wall that Shane Victorino lost in the air at the warning track.

The third game in the four-game set will bring Kyle Kendrick (0-3, 4.33 ERA as starter) to the mound for the Phils against lefty Jaime Garcia (3-2, 3.55 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 at Busch Stadium.