Cliff Lee Dazzles in Delayed Seattle Debut

SEATTLE -- The last time we saw Cliff Lee in action, he was almost single-handedly keeping the Phillies afloat in the 2010 postseason

The left-hander started five games, went 4-0 -- including getting the only two Philadelphia wins in the World Series against the Yankees -- and put together a 1.56 ERA.

Since then there has been a trade to Seattle, a February foot surgery, a March five-game suspension (later rescinded) and six weeks lost to an abdominal strain in his left side.

It would come as no surprise the, to find that Lee should be off his game when he finally debuted for the Mariners Friday in Safeco Field.

Just one thing. He wasn't off, not even a little. The Rangers have given him more trouble than any other American League team over the years, but on this night, Cliff Lee was again at the top of his form, picking up when he'd left off last October.

Seven innings. Three hits, all singles. No walks. No runners past first base.

The only thing that was missing was a win, and for that you have to thank Rangers starter Colby Lewis, who is doing a masterful job of resurrecting his career in the United States after having pitched in Japan in 2008 and 2009. He threw a three-hitter for nine innings, walking one and retiring the final 21 batters he faced in order.

Mariner closer David Aardsma said it wasn't so much Lee's pitches you needed to watch to get an indication of his stuff.



Share"I look at the way the hitters react, the kinds of swings they're getting," Aardsma said after the game which the Mariners lost in 12 innings, 2-0. "And they weren't getting any good swings at all. He just dominated them. Lee was something to watch tonight."

The Mariners will have Lee for about 29 or 30 more starts if all goes well, and they'd like to have him beyond that. Friday's game wasn't an audition -- the Mariners know what the 2008 American League Cy Young Award winner can do, and they'd like to have Lee forgo his turn at free agency this fall and opt to stay with Seattle for years to come.

For the moment however, it's still a settling-in process. The two sides aren't talking contract, although it's likely that they will by the middle of the season. Lee is just one game into the Mariner portion of his career, after all.

And a nice one game it was. Lee said he was pleased with his debut, but was quick to add that he'd rather have been rocked a little if it meant getting a win.

"It was exciting, being out there for the first time," Lee said. "Things went really well for me, not giving up any runs like that. But I'd rather give up a couple if it means we would have won."

Catcher Adam Moore said Lee was a pleasure to handle. Of Lee's 98 pitches, almost 75 percent were strikes. The ones that weren't didn't miss by much.

"It's a lot of fun catching a guy who has that kind of command," Moore said. "Every pitch is right there."

Manager Don Wakamatsu had to struggle a little to see the bright side of Lee's effort because much of the rest of the night for the Mariners was bleak -- botched bases-loaded opportunities, errors and wild pitches leading to two 12th-inning Texas runs and an offense that has scored two runs or fewer nine times in 23 games.

"When you look at the positives, Lee was probably as good as you could hope for," Wakamatsu said. "He gave us a chance to win and he dominated their lineup. His velocity was great and his efficiency with his pitches was good, especially the deeper he got into the game.

"All in all it was pretty special."

It was the kind of special the Mariners would like to keep around for a while.