Texas Can't Handle Lee, Fall 4-2

Rangers score two in the ninth, but it was too-little-too-late as Cliff Lee (above) confounded Texas hitters all game. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

In a division rival's ballpark, this is how the Ace of a pitching staff is supposed to perform. Cliff Lee (W, 4-2) pitched a complete-game, striking out seven batters while walking none, and didn't allow a run until the ninth inning as the Seattle Mariners (23-34) pulled out a 4-2 win.

"I was just locating fastballs, getting ahead in the count, and mixing in a few offspeed pitches here and there and forced them to swing the bat," Lee said. " That was the extent of it."

Lee allowed seven hits, all singles, and didn't allow a Rangers' runner to get past second base until the ninth. It was, by far, his best outing at the Ballpark in Arlington - a place where he had posted a 9.19 ERA over the last seven seasons.

"You make mistakes, they'll hit you. This is a hitter's park. If you miss up, they've got some big, strong guys over there that can drive the ball," Lee said. "It's a deadly combination if your missing over the plate."

Rangers' starter Scott Feldman (L, 3-6) pitched 5 2-3 innings, giving up four runs (three earned) and Matt Harrison pitched the final 3 1-3, allowing no runs. Feldman gave up nine hits and walked two on 120 pitches. He allowed Mariners left fielder Michael Saunders to hit a three-run homer in the second inning, but recovered to allow only one more run and retired five of the final six batters he faced.

"That was pretty much the game right there," Feldman said. "Cliff Lee pitched a great game from that point on, I got a little better after the home run... The home run kind of got me."

Lee showed the Rangers just what a number one pitcher looks like, and it certainly isn't Feldman and his 5.73 ERA.

Texas and Seattle go at it in game number two of it's four game series, with a 7:05 p.m. start time Tuesday night. Colby Lewis (4-4, 3.62 ERA) and Felix Hernandez (3-4, 3.26) are each team's respective starters.

News and Notes:

• Don't look now, but the Los Angeles Angels have won six straight games, vaulting themselves from third in the division to a half a game ahead of Texas at 32-28 for first in the American League West. It was only a matter of time, I guess.

(Portions of this article were taken from The Associated Press)