Clifton Phifer Lee¡ Married, wife's name is Kristen; one son, Jaxon (4/29/01) and one daughter, Maci (4/5/03)¡ 1997 graduate of Benton High School (AR), where he played baseball, basketball and football¡ Attended Meridian Community College (MS), 1998-99, and the University of Arkansas in 2000, where he went 4-3, 4.45 ERA¡ Had his number retired during the 2008-09 offseason by Benton High School and was honored with a Cliff Lee Day as well in Benton¡ Was CLE's 2005 Roberto Clemente Award nominee¡ He and his wife Kristen were honorary chairs for the Light the Night Walks held at Progressive Field, 2006-08, to raise funds for cancer research and patient services for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society¡ Made a $1 million donation to Arkansas Children's Hospital to fund an endowed chair in pediatric hematology/oncology in honor of their son Jaxon, a children's leukemia survivor¡ In 2011, launched Lee's VIP's, a charitable ticket program benefitting Philadelphia-area children's groups and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)¡ Supports the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Eastern PA¡ Member of the Mississippi Junior College Sports Hall of Fame¡ **Signed by:** Joe Jordan.
2014
Made his 2nd career Opening Day start, 3/31 at TEX (other: 4/6/09 at TEX)... Became the 1st pitcher to allow 8 or more ER and earn a win in his team's opener since STL's Oral Hildebrand allowed 10 ER on 4/21/37... Was the 1st Phillies pitcher to allow 8 or more ER in a game and earn the win since Dick Ruthven, 8/31/81 at ATL... Posted a 2.95 ERA (25 ER, 76.1 IP) over his final 12 starts after allowing 8 ER on Opening Day at TEX... Tossed back-to-back double-digit SO games, 4/16-21, for the 3rd time in his career... Joined Greg Maddux as the only 2 pitchers since 1900 to post a SO/BB ratio of 30-to-1 or better over a 10-start span (92 SO, 3 BB, 30.67 SO/BB ratio; 9/6/13-4/21/14)... Suffered the loss without allowing an ER for the 1st time in his career, 5/13 vs LAA; the 1st Phillies pitcher to do so since Brett Myers, 4/6/03 vs PIT... Was on the DL, 5/19-7/20 (left elbow strain); made 3 rehab appearances for Clearwater (A) before being activated... Went 0-1, 6.08 ERA (9 ER, 13.1 IP) in 3 starts after being activated... Left his start, 7/31 at WSH, after 2.2 IP (H, 4 SO)... Was placed on the DL on 8/1 with a left flexor pronator strain and missed the remainder of the season... Marked the 1st time in his career he had multiple stints on the DL... Did not pitch 200.0 innings for the 1st time since 2007, snapping his streak of 6 straight seasons
2013
Led MLB in BB/9.0 IP (1.29) & SO/BB ratio (6.94)... Ranked 2nd in the NL in SO (222), T-4th in quality starts (24), 6th in ERA (2.87) & SO/9.0 IP (8.97), 10th in opponent's AVG (.232) & T-10th in wins (14)... Finished with the 3rd-lowest road ERA (2.43) in the NL and 5th-lowest in MLB... Selected as a 2013 NL All-Star by manager Bruce Bochy (1.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 H); his 4th career All-Star selection (2008, 2010-11, 2013) and 2nd as a Phillie... Made at least 30 starts for the 8th time in his career... Reached 200.0 innings for the 6th straight season and 8th time in his career (also: 2005-06, 2008-13)... Surpassed 200 SO for the 3rd straight season (2011-13)...Allowed 3 ER or less in 26 of his 31 starts (84%) and 2 ER or less in 19 of 31 (61%)... Had 5 double-digit SO games, including a season-high 14 SO on 9/16 vs MIA... Became the first pitcher to throw at least 8.0 innings while allowing 2 ER or less in his first 2 starts of a season since TB's Matt Garza in 2010 (first 3 starts)... Walked Jay Bruce on a full count, 4/15 at CIN (7th inn.), snapping a streak of 169 consecutive PA without issuing a walk... Walked 3 batters and pitched only 5.0 innings, 4/20 vs STL, snapping his modern-era record (since 1900) of 20 consecutive starts of at least 6.0 innings pitched with 1 walk or less (7/4/12-4/15/13)... Pitched against CLE for the 1st time on 5/1, giving him at least 1 start against all 30 ML teams... Threw at least 7.0 innings in 11 consecutive starts, 5/6-6/29... Earned his 10th win of the season, 7/5 vs ATL, marking the 2nd time in his career that he has won 10 games before the All-Star break (2008, 12 wins)... Had an 8-game winning streak, 5/6-7/5, T-2nd longest in the NL... Made his 300th career start, 7/21 at NYM... Had his start skipped on 7/27 (stiff neck); went 14 days between starts... Threw his 2,000th career inning, 8/4 vs ATL (3rd inn.)... Made his 100th career start as a Phillie, 8/31 at CHI... Became the 1st pitcher in Phillies history to pitch 2 games allowing 2 or fewer hits, no walks and at least 10 SO (8/19/09 vs ARI & 9/6 vs ATL)... On 9/16 vs MIA became just the 2nd pitcher in ML history to register 14 or more SO in a game in which he also collected 4 or more RBI (other: NYM's Doc Gooden on 5/11/90 vs LAD)... Walked only 1 batter with 54 SO in September (5 GS, 39.0 IP)
2012
Led the majors in BB/9.0 IP (1.19), SO/BB ratio (7.39) and
percentage of 1st-pitch strikes (71%); T-4th in the NL in
SO (207), T-7th in innings (211.0) and 9th in ERA (3.16)...Made at least 30 starts for the 6th time in his career...Had his 2nd straight 200-SO season...Had 5 double-digit SO games, including a season-high
12 SO twice: 6/5 vs LAD & 8/16 at MIL...Had 15 no-decisions in his 30 starts, T-1st among all MLB
starters (Mat Latos)...Posted a 2.45 ERA in 16 starts after the All-Star break,
compared to a 3.98 ERA in 14 starts prior...The Phillies scored just 75 runs while he was in the game
(211.0 IP), which was the 4th-lowest run support
average (3.20) among all MLB starters; the Phillies were
held to 3 or fewer runs in 20 of his 30 starts (66.7%) ...Had the lowest win percentage in MLB (.400) among all
pitchers with at least 20 starts and an ERA under 3.50;
overall, the Phillies went 12-18 (.400) in his 30 starts...Issued 1 walk or none in 24 of his 30 starts (80.0%)...Pitched at least 6.0 innings and issued 1 walk or none in
each of his final 17 starts of the season, setting a
modern-era ML record (since 1900); Christy Mathewson
(1908) and Greg Maddux (1997) each made 14 straight
starts in which they went 6.0 or more innings and
walked 1 or none...Had the 5th-lowest ERA among all NL starters after the
All-Star break (2.45)...Threw a career-high 10.0 scoreless innings but received
a no-decision, 4/18 at SF (Phillies lost, 1-0 in 11 inn.); was
the first Phillies pitcher to throw 10 shutout innings in a
game since Hall of Famer Steve Carlton did it, 9/21/81 at
MTL (ND, Phillies lost 1-0 in 17.0 inn.)...Was placed on the 15-day DL on 4/22 with a left oblique
strain (retroactive to 4/19)...Became the first Phillies pitcher to remain winless over
his first 9 starts of a season with an ERA of 3.00 or lower
(4/7-6/5; 2.92 ERA, 21 ER, 64.2 IP) since the NL began
keeping track of earned runs in 1912...Earned his first win in his 14th start of the season, 7/4 at
NYM; 279 different ML pitchers won a game before him...Became only the 2nd Cy Young Award winner in MLB
history to begin a season without a win in 13 or more
starts; Vida Blue, who won the 1971 AL Cy Young Award,
went 0-5 in 14 starts for KC in 1983...Was the first former Cy Young Award winner to have 13
straight starts without a win since Greg Maddux went
0-5 over a span of 14 starts in 2008; the longest winless
streak in ML history for a Cy Young winner was 19 starts
(Fernando Valenzuela, 1988-89).
2011
First full season in the NL. ... Selected to the NL All-Star team via the player vote. ... Finished 3rd in NL Cy Young Award balloting with 90 total points (five second-place votes, 17 third-place votes, nine fourth-place votes and 1 fifth-place vote). ... Led the majors with 6 shutouts, the most by a Phillie in a single season since Steve Carlton also had six in 1982. ... Finished 2nd among all NL starters in CG (6), SO (238), SO/BB ratio (5.67) and BB/9.0 IP (1.62), T-2nd in quality starts (25), third in ERA (2.40), fourth in innings (232.2) & SO/9.0 IP (9.21), T-4th in wins (17), sixth in opponent's average (.229), 7th in winning % (.680). ... Had the 3rd-lowest home ERA in the NL (1.94). ... Set a career high with 238 SO, the most by a Phillies LHP since Steve Carlton struck out a ML-leading 275 in 1983;
became the 12th pitcher in Phillies history (4th LHP) to reach 200 SO in a single season. ... Set a career high in innings (232.2). ... His 17 wins were the most for a Phillies LHP since Shane
Rawley in 1987 (17-11). ... Named NL Pitcher of the Month for August (5-0, 0.45 ERA, 2 ER, 39.2 IP) and June (5-0, 0.21 ERA, 1 ER, 42.0 IP);
was 1st Phillies pitcher to win award twice in one season. ... Became the 1st pitcher in ML history to have two months in one season with at least five wins, no losses and an ERA under 0.50. ... Had nine double-digit SO games, the most by a Phillie in a single season since Curt Schilling had 15 in 1998. ... Went 13-3, 1.59 ERA (27 ER, 152.2 IP) in his final 20 starts. ... Had a career-high 34.0-inning scoreless streak, 6/11-7/3, the second-longest streak in Phillies history (Grover Alexander - 41.0 IP in 1911); also had a 30.2-inning scoreless streak, 8/17-9/10. ... Became the third pitcher in club history to pitched three straight SHO, 6/16-28 (last: Roberts, 1950). ... Had a 29.0-inning scoreless streak at Citizens Bank Park, 8/17-9/15, the 2nd-longest home streak in MLB in 2011. ... Had a season-long 7-game win streak, 7/30-9/5 (9 GS,
7-0, 1.00 ERA, 8 ER, 72.1 IP). ... Hit his 1st two career HR: 7/9 vs ATL (Tommy Hanson) and 8/9 at LAD (Ted Lilly); T-1st among all ML pitchers. ... Set a career high with 16 SO, 5/6 vs ATL; T-3rd for a single game in club history. ... Got his first career SB, 5/21 vs TEX. ... Won six consecutive home starts while posting a 0.92 ERA
(5 ER, 49.0 IP), 5/21-6/28. ... Had a career-high 3 RBI, 5/26 vs CIN. ... Became the 1st pitcher to strike out at least 12 batters in a CG while throwing less than 100 pitches (12 SO, 99
pitches) since Sandy Koufax on 6/4/64 at PHI (no-hitter, 12 SO, 97 pitches), 4/14 vs WSH. ... Presented with the Steve Carlton Pitcher of the Year Award by the Philadelphia chapter of the BBWAA.
2010
Combined to go 12-9, 3.18 ERA in 28 starts between
SEA and TEX ... Tied for the AL lead in CG (7) and finished 6th in ERA
and opponents avg (.240) ... Led all MLB pitchers in fewest BB/9.0 IP (0.76),
pitches/IP (14.0) and fewest baserunners/9.0 IP (9.07) ... Finished 7th in AL Cy Young Award voting ... Posted a MLB-leading 10.28 SO/BB ratio, the
2nd-highest mark since 1900 (Bret Saberhagen,
11.00 in 1994) ... Had 6 of his 9 career double-digit SO games, which
ranked 2nd-most in the AL and 4th-most in MLB ... Opened the season with 21 straight starts of at least
6.0 innings and 2 or fewer walks, matching the
2nd-longest season-opening streak since 1920
(Curt Schilling in 2002) ... Collected 143 SO before reaching double digits in BB
which set a modern era record (Curt Schilling, 140 SO
in 2002) ... Had his 5th straight 200.0-inning season (212.1) despite
not making his season debut until 4/30 due to injury ... Opened the season on the 15-day DL, 4/4-29 (right
lower abdominal strain); rehabbed with Tacoma (AAA),
4/25-29 ... Had surgery to remove a loose body in his left foot
prior to the season on 2/5 in Arkansas (Dr. Bryan Burke) ... Recorded 9 consecutive outs via SO (non-consecutive
batters) between the 3rd and 6th innings, 5/28 at LAA ... Became the 3rd pitcher in the last 11 seasons to have
at least 6 CG before the All-Star break (Mark Mulder, 7
in 2003 and Roy Halladay, 7 in 2008 and 2010) ... Threw 3 consecutive CG, 6/18 vs CIN, 6/23 vs CHI and
6/29 at NYY, to become the 1st MLB pitcher to do so
since CC Sabathia in 2008 ... Named AL Pitcher of the Month for June (4-1, 1.76
ERA, 6 GS); was his 3rd career POM award (April and
August 2008) ... Became the 1st pitcher in MLB to record 4 CG wins in a
single month (June) since Roy Halladay in September
2003 ... Pitched at least 8.0 innings in 10 straight outings,
6/18-8/6, the longest streak since 1996 (Pat Hentgen,
12 straight) ... Traded to TEX on 7/9 ... Selected to his 2nd All-Star team; needed only 6
pitches to throw a scoreless 4th inning, 7/13 at LAA ... Had a career-high 13 SO, 7/27 vs OAK ... Got his 100th career win, 8/6 at OAK (100 wins, 57
losses); only 5 other active pitchers reached 100 wins
in fewer decisions (Tim Hudson, 100-45; Roy Oswalt,
100-47; Johan Santana, 100-47; Roy Halladay, 100-50;
and Andy Pettitte, 100-54)
Went at least 7.0 innings in 22 of his 28 starts and at
least 8.0 innings 17 times ... Received only 13 total runs of support in his 9 losses ... Went 3-2, 2.78 ERA in 5 postseason starts for TEX ... Threw his 3rd career postseason CG in Game 5 of the
ALDS, the series clincher, 10/12 at TB (9.0 IP, 6 H, R,
11 SO)
2009
Clifton Phifer Lee...married, wife's name is Kristen; one son, Jaxon (4/29/01)
and one daughter, Maci (4/5/03)...attended Meridian Community College (MS), 1998-
99, and the University of Arkansas in 2000...had his number retired during the 2008-
09 off-season by Benton High School and was honored with a Cliff Lee Day as well
in Benton...2005 John Hancock Roberto Clemente Award nominee for Cleveland...has
been involved in several charities during his playing career, including serving as honorary
chairs for the Light the Night Walks held at Progressive Field, 2006-08, to raise funds
for cancer research and patient services for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society...
son, Jaxon, is a children's leukemia survivor...the Lees routinely donate their time and
money to the The Leukemia & Lymphoma
Society...member of the Mississippi Junior
College Sports Hall of Fame.
2008
Posted one of the most historic seasons in the history of the American League and one of the best ever turned
in by a left-handed pitcher in the club history...Led the AL in wins (22) and ERA (2.54) to become the first
Indians pitcher since 1972 to lead the league in wins (G Perry 24) and the first to win 20-game since Perry
in 1974...His .880 winning % (22-3) was the 2nd best in Indians franchise history (1901-2008) and tied for
3rd highest in MLB history (1876-2008) by a 20-game winner...First Indians LHP to lead the AL in ERA since
Same McDowell in 1965 (2.18)...Lowest ERA by an AL LHP in this decade...His 22 wins are the 2nd most in
club history by a LHP (Vean Gregg 23 in 1911)...One of just 7 pitchers since 1920 (STATS LLC) to win 22 of
his first 25 decisions...Captured 2008 AL Cy Young (last AL team with consecutive Cy Young winners was
Toronto in 1996-97)...In addition to leading the league in wins, ERA and
winning %, he also finished 2nd in CG (4), 9th in K (170), 2nd in IP
(223.1), 13th in avg all'd (.253), 3rd in slg% all'd (.348), 3rd in on-base
% (.285) allowed, 1st in HR all'd/9.0IP (.48, 12HR, 223.1IP), 2nd in
baserunners/9.0IP (10.2) & 3rd in SO/BB ratio (5.0)...His 1.37 walks
per 9.0IP were lowest in the AL...Was 5th in the league in runs support
(6.13), 9th in pitches thrown (3289) and 13th in ground ball/fly ball
ratio (1.38) ...Induced 27 GIDPs (T5th in AL)...Tossed the first CG/shutout of his career in start of April 24 at KC
(9.0IP, 3H, 0R, 0BB, career-high tying 9K)...Did not allowed a run in
Major League/career-high 27.0IP from April 13-30, longest by an Indians
pitcher since Dan SPILLNER in 1982 (29.1IP)... Became the 1st 13 game
winner in the AL as he tossed his 2nd CG of the year (9.0IP, 11H, 2R/ER,
0BB, 4K) on July 20th, a 6-2 win over the Mariners in Safeco Field...
Became the 1st 20-game winner in the majors in his start on Sept. 1,
vs. the Chicago White Sox as he tossed his 4th complete game and
2nd shutout of the season as he allowed just five hits... He retired 21
straight batters from the 3rd batter of the 1st inning to the 2nd batter
in the 8th inning...Lee is the 25th pitcher in Indians history to record 20 or more wins in a season and the 56th
time an Indian has done so...Won a career-high 11 straight decisions from July 11-Sept. 12, the longest in MLB since 2005 (Chris Carpenter
13G) & longest by an Indian since Gaylord Perry 15 in 1974...Posted 11th win and fanned a career-high 11 batters
in his start of June 26 vs. San Francisco (8.0IP, 4H, 1R/ER, 11K)... Entered the All-Star break at 12-2 w/a
2.31 ERA in 18 starts and started for the American League team in his 1st career All-Star appearance (2.0IP,
1H, 0R, 0BB, 3K)...Only Cleveland LHP ever to start an All-Star Game... Won AL pitcher of the Month in April
(5-0, 0.96ERA)... ... Went 5-0 w/a 1.86 ERA in 5 August starts (38.2IP, 36H, 8ER) to earn AL PITCHER of
the MONTH... First Indians pitcher since CHARLES NAGY (1996) to win two AL Pitcher of the Month Awards
within the same season...Went 5-0 in 5GS vs. KC this season...The last Cleveland pitcher to go 5-0 in five starts versus one team in
one season was Pat Dobson in 1976 against the Orioles...Became only pitcher since 1956 to go at least 8.0IP
in 3 consecutive starts (April 13-24) with less than 3 hits/1 walk allowed while striking out at least 8 batters (retrosheet/baseball-reference.com)...Won his first 6 starts
and was the first Indians pitcher since GREG SWINDELL in
1988 to do so...From June 9th-on he went 13-2 w/a 2.59 ERA
in his last 20 starts (146.1IP, 146H, 42ER) and from July 11th
on he was 11-1 w/a 2.67 ERA over his last 14 starts (104.2IP,
110H, 31ER)... Earned his 21st victory on Sept. 7 @ KC
(7.1IP, 7H, 1ER)... Win #22 on 9/12 vs. KC ...According to
ELIAS Lee was just the 4th pitcher in ML history to win 22 of
his first 24 decisions... Went 10-0 at home, the first pitcher
since JOHAN SANTANA (12-0 in 2006) to go w/o a loss in 10+
decisions at home...Was 16-1 at night... His 29GS to earn 22
wins equaled fastest in club history (4th time, last Bob Feller
in 1951)...Went at least 5.0IP in all 31 of his starts...Went at
least 8.0IP twelve times... He was 3-0 in June w/a 3.41 ERA in 5 starts (31.2IP, 33H, 12ER)... Went 3-1 w/a
3.14 ERA (43.0IP, 44H, 14ER) in 5 July starts as he became MLB's first 14-game winner and struck out 10
batters in start of July 25 vs. Minnesota (8.0IP, 6H, 2R/ER, 0BB, 10K)... ...Did not make his last scheduled
start of the season on Sept. 28 at CWS (stiff neck)...Won his first start of the year in Oakland on April 6, a 2-1 win over the A's and Joe Blanton...6.2IP, 4H, 1R/0ER,
1BB, 4K...Was his first win since July 1, 2007 vTB (4GS/8G w/o win)... Went 9.0 scoreless innings in his 7th
start vs. Toronto on May 12 (G2) to lower his ERA from 0.81 to 0.67, but did not get a decision as the Indians
failed to score during his time on the mound (Indians lost in 10.0IP, 0-3)...s 35.0IP shy of having the top winning % in Club History (Colon .625, Lee .661)... Had an ERA of 1.16 in the
first inning (31.0IP, 27H, 4ER)...Batters hit .265 (88-332) with runners on and .273 (45-155) with RISP...Had
only 3 at bats w/the bases loaded this year...3SB/0CS... Did not walk a batter over 28.0 innings from April 18
to May 7... Allowed an OPS of .633 for the season (.621 by RHH, .661 by LHH).
2007
Got hurt in spring training and never got his season on track, spending 5 weeks in Buffalo at the end of July and
all of August before returning to relief duty in September. ..DL-Spent the first month of the season on the 15-day
DL w/a strained right abdominal muscle ...Was injured during a bullpen session in February and did not make a
spring start ...Was placed on the 15-day DL on April 1... Made 3 rehab starts with minor league affiliates plus
one at extended spring training in Winter Haven... Threw 5.0 shutout frames for Akron vs. Reading to win his
final rehab start (2H, 1BB, 7K) ACTIVE- Received no decision in his 2007 debut May 3 vs. Toronto, a 6-5
Indians win (6.0IP, 9H, 5R/ER) Recorded the 50th win of his career in start on May 8 against the LA Angels as
he tossed his 3rd career CG in a 5-1 win over the Angels (season-high 9.0IP, 3H, 1R/ER, 2BB, 2K)...lmproved
to 2-0 on the year and 8-0 career in interleague play w/a win over the Reds (6.0IP, 6H, 4R/2ER) on May 18...0n
May 23 at Kansas City, matched a career high with 8R/ER allowed as he suffered his 1st loss ... Faced the
Tigers on June 2, lost his 3rd straight start (4.1IP, 8H, 5R)... Surrendered 3HR in the Indians 4-2 loss at
Cincinnati on June 8, tallying 6.0IP, 4H, 4R/ER, 3BB, 3K in his 4th straight loss ... Posted his 3rd win and halted
his personal4-game losing streak in outing, June 13 at Florida (5.0IP, 6H, 3R/ER, 4BB, and a season-high 6K)
1R/ER, OBB, 5K, HR to Howard... Cut down Tampa Bay 3-2 on July 1, totaling 8.0IP, 4H, 1R/ER, 2BB, 9K as he
won his 3rd straight decision (June 13-July 1, going 3-0 w/a 2.77ERA in 4GS, .26.0IP, 21H, 8ER)...Proceeded to
go 0-4 w/an 11.70 ERA over his next 4 starts (20.0IP, 32H, 26ER) from July 6-26 and was optioned to AAA
Buffalo on July 27...Allowed 7ER in 3 straight starts, July 16-26... From May 23-July 26 went 3-8 w/a 7.40 ERA
in 12 starts (65.2IP, 81H, 54ER) ... BUFFALO- -Despite allowing 3 or fewer runs in 6 of his 7 Bisons starts, the
team was just 1-6 when Cliff took the hill. ..Lone victory came on 8/25 vs. ScrantonlWilkes-Barre (6.0IP, 5H, R,
ER, 3BB, 8K)... -Struck out 8 in three of seven games (7/31 in Syracuse, 815 in ScrantonlWilkes-Barre, 8/25 vs.
SWB) ... Struck out 50 in 41.01P and held opponents to a .206 batting average ...SEPT- Went 0-0 w/a 4.76 ERA in 4 September relief
outings, the first of his big league career (5.2IP, 7H, 3R/ER) ... Did not allow a run over his last 2 outings (3.2IP, 1H, OR, 3K)... STATSBatters
hit .292 (33-113) w/RISP and .303 (53-175) with men on base ...Went 3-1 w/a 3.38 ERA over 4 interleague starts this year to
improve to 10-1 lifetime in interleague contests... His .909 win% is the best in the history of interleague play (min. 10GS).
2006
Had another quality season as he made at least 30 starts and topped 14 wins for the 3rd straight season...Only
Lee, Johan Santana, Kenny Rogers & Jake Westbrook have won 14 or more games in the American League in
each season since 2004...Topped 200.0IP for the 2nd straight year, tossing his first career 9.0 inning complete
game on the season's final day, October 1 vs. Tampa Bay (career-high 9.0IP, 7H, 3R/ER, 7K)...Now owns a
career winning % of .636 (49-28), which would be the highest in club history with 1000 career IP...Was T20th
in the AL in wins (14) and was T8th w/29HR all'd...Made 2006 debut on April 5 in Chicago, a 4-3, 11.0 inning win against the Sox and Neal Cotts...ND, 5.1IP, 4H,
3R/ER, 1BB, 1K, 2HB... Won his first game in 2nd start vs. Seattle on April 11 (6.0IP, 4H, 2R) and did not allow
a hit until the 5th inning while fanning a season-high 8 Mariners...Lost 3 straight starts, May 1-12, and for
the month went 1-4 w/a 7.79 ERA in 6 starts (32.1IP, 51H, 28ER, 21K, .347 AVG)...Worked a season-low 2.2IP
w/a season-high 7 runs & 3 HR in start of May 29 vs. Chicago-AL before winning 4th game in outing of June
3 vs. the LA Angels...Over his 5 June starts he was 4-0 w/a 3.09 ERA (35.0IP, 31H, 13R/12ER) after working a season-high 7.2IP
in a no-decision @CWS on June 9...Allowed 3 solo homers in 8-4 win over the Yankees, June 15 (6.2IP, 5H,
3R)...Equaled a then season-high w/7.2IP in outing of June 20 vs. Chicago-NL in notching his 6th win before
improving to 6-0 lifetime in interleague play in notching his team-best 7th win on June 26 at St. Louis...Won his
season-high 5th straight decision in start of July 1 in Cincinnati (6.0IP, 9H, 4R) before having streak snapped
in start of July 6 vs. NYY (6.0IP, 10H, 7R/4ER)...From June 1-on he was 11-6 w/a 3.91 ERA (138.0IP, 147H, 60ER) in 22 starts...Was 2-3 w/a 4.98 ERA in 6 July
starts (34.1IP, 46H, 29R/19ER) and he allowed hitters to a .315 (46-146) average against (.493 slg%)...Earned
his 10th win of the season in his 100th career start on August 10 vs. the LA Angels (7.0IP, 9H, 2R/ER), 2 days
after signing a 3-year contract extension thru 2009...Won 45 of his first 100 starts...Went 4-1 w/a 3.03ERA in 6 Sept/Oct. starts (38.2IP, 32H, 13ER) and won his last 2 starts... Won his 13th
game of the season in a start on Sept. 25 against the White Sox as he tossed 7.0 innings allowing only 1ER on
4H while walking 2 and striking out 4 in a 14-1 win before tossing first career 9.0IP complete game on October
1st in his final start vs. Tampa Bay...Major League hitters batted .278 (24-807) with 29HR...ERA in the 2nd half was 3.96 (91.0P, 97H, 40ER)...Indians
were 16-17 (.485) in his starts and averaged 5.8RS (192RS/33GS) per start...Worked into the 6th inning
in 28 of 33GS (84.8%)...Pitched at least 5.0 innings in 30 of his 33 starts and from April 7, 2005 to May 23,
2006 worked at least 5.0 innings in 41 consecutive starts...Batters hit .311 (103-331) with runners on and
.286 (53-185) with RISP...Allowed 7 steals (3CS)...Batters hit .406 (39-96) on the first pitch...Signed a 3-year
contract extension thru 2009 w/a club option for 2010 on August 8...Has allowed 8 career grand slams, tied
for the most by any active pitcher (K. Rogers and T. Gordon)...
2005
Enjoyed a breakout season, posting a career-high 18 wins - the most by an Indians LHP since Greg Swindell's 18 in 1988 and the most overall by an Indian since Bartolo Colon (18-5) in 1999...His 4th place finish in the AL Cy Young voting (8 pts) was the highest since Colon in 1999 by an Indian...His .783 winning % (18-5) led the American League, the first Indian since Bob Feller in 1951 to lead the AL in
winning %...The .783 winning % was tied for the 3rd best mark in club history with Colon behind Johnny Allen in 1937 (15-1) and Bob Feller (.813) in 1954...Finished T2nd in the AL in wins, the most by a LHP in the AL in 2005...His .251 average against ranked 11th in the AL as he topped 200.0IP for the first time...Won a career-high 9 straight decisions from July 18-Sept. 22 to start the 2nd half and over the streak posted an ERA of 3.90 in 13GS w/o a loss (85.1IP, 79H, 37ER)...Equaled the longest in the AL in 2005 and was the longest
by an Indians starter since Dennis Martinez in 1995 (Steve Karsay won 10 straight in 1999 in relief )...Over all in the 2nd half he was 9-1 w/a 3.66 ERA in 14 starts (93.1IP, 85H, 38ER, T4th in the AL in wins in 2nd
half)...Over his last 9GS from August 14 on he was 6-1 w/a 2.73 ERA (62.2IP, 48H, 19ER) and worked at least 6.0IP
in all 9 starts...His winning % of .711 (32-13) is 2nd best among AL pitchers over the last two seasons (2004-05)
behind LHP Johan Santana (35-13)...Had the 3rd best run support in the AL (6.2RS/GS) behind David Wells and
Chan Ho Park...Made his 2005 debut in Chicago on April 7 and was tagged for 8 hits and 5 runs over 3.1IP, his shortest outing
of the season (ND)...Won his first game of 2005 on April 18 at Kansas City, tossing 7.0 shutout innings while allowing
just 2 hits and did not allow a runner to 3rd base (2BB, 5K)...Tossed another 7.0 shutout innings in his 4th
start to win his second straight outing (7.0IP, 4H, 0R) at Seattle on April 23, extending his scoreless streak to an
Indian season-high 14.0IP...Suffered his 1st loss of the 2005 season on April 30, a 8-1 Tribe loss to KC (5.0IP, 8H,
6R/5ER)...Did not allow a run in 16.0 IP from April 18-April 30 (Indians season-high, tied w/ Sabathia)...Was outstanding in outing of June 7 against the San Diego Padres in Petco Park...Did not get a decision despite
pitching 7.0 shutout innings in a game that was decided in the 11th inning after a Khalil Greene error (2-0 win)...7.0IP,
5H, 0R, 2BB, career-high 9K...During the month of June he was 2-1 w/a 2.96 ERA in 6 starts (36.1IP, 40H, 16ER,
14BB, 33K)...Earned his 10th win in his start of July 18 against the Kansas City Royals at Jacobs Field (6-2 win)...First career complete game in a rain-shortened 5-inning affair...5.0IP, 4H, 2R/2ER, 2BB, 7K, HR (DeJesus)...Pitched 8.0 shutout
IP in his 15th win September 6 at Detroit ...4H, 0R, 2BB, 4K...Picked up his 16th win in his outing of Sept. 11 vs.
Minnesota...6.0IP, 4H, 2R/ER, BB, 2K, HR (Jones)... Went a season-high tying 8.0IP (3rd time) in last start of Sept.
28 vs. Tampa Bay in a 1-0 loss to Seth McClung that snapped his 9-game winning streak...Worked 5.0 or more IP in last 31GS of the season after season-low 3.1IP to start the season... Worked into the 6th
inning in 26 of 32 starts...Batters hit .264 (85-322) off him w/runners on and .235 (39-166) w/RISP and .211 (16-76)
with RISP-2outs...Batters hit .241 (109-452) off him w/no one on...Allowed 3 grand slams...His 10.96 (246/202.0IP)
baserunners allowed per 9.0IP was 8th in the AL, his .295 on-base % allowed was 6th, his .237 average against vs.
RHP was 13th and his fly ball ratio of .56 (287GB, 510FB) was 3rd in the league...Indians were 23-9 (.719) when
he started...Had surgery after the season (10/26) in Philadelphia, PA to repair a right-sided incisional hernia (Dr.
Bill Meyers performed the arthroscopic procedure).
2004
Lee put together a impressive campaign, leading the team with 161 strikeouts and tying Jake Westbrook for a
team-best 14 wins, which were tied for 8th in the entire American League in his first full season in the major
leagues...Was 5th in the league with 8.1 strikeouts per 9.0IP, just head of Boston's Curt Schilling as his 161SO
ranked 11th among AL pitchers...Was also T8th in the league in winning % at .636 (14-8).
Started the year 5-0 as only three Indians pitchers in the last 30 years have now started a season 5-0 (Lee,
D.Martinez 9-0 in 1995, Swindell 6-0 in 1988)...Allowed 3 or fewer runs in each of his first 8 starts, joining Bud
Black in 1990 as the only Tribe pitchers in the last 30 years to do so...Started the year by winning 10 of his first
11 decisions (last Tribe pitcher to start 10-1 was Steve Karsay in 1999)...The last Indians starting pitcher to start
10-1 or better was Charles Nagy in 1996 (11-1). Picked up his fist win of the season in the Tribe's home opener, 6-3 victory vs. Minnesota on April 12 (6.0IP, 5H,
2R/ER, 4BB, 1K)...Won his second straight start on April 18 vs. Detroit (5.1IP, 6H, 3R/ER, 0BB, season-high 6K)
to equal a career-high winning streak...Won his 3rd straight decision in start of April 30 vs. Baltimore in tossing
then season-high 7.0 innings (7.0IP, 5H, 1R/ER, 4BB, 5K)...Won 4th straight decision in start of May 12 at
Boston (6.0IP, 6H, 2R/ER, 3BB, 8K), setting a new career single-game standard for strikeouts...Won his careerhigh
and 5th straight decision to open the season in start of May 17 vs. Chicago-AL (5.0IP, 2H, 1R/ER, 3BB, 3K).
Worked a season-high 7.2IP in start at Tampa Bay on May 23 (ND, 7.2IP, 6H, 4R/ER)...Equaled career-high with
8 strikeouts on May 28 vs. Oakland, shutting out the A's over 6.1IP, but got a no-decision in a 1-0 win...Allowed a
season-high 5 runs and 10 hits as he suffered his 1st loss of the season on June 3 at Anaheim (6.1 IP, 10 H,
5R/ER, 1SO, 1HR)...Also won five straight decisions to equal season/career-high, June 18-July 16.
Was ejected by HP Umpire Matt Hollowell from start of June 13 vs. Cincinnati (3.2IP, 6H, 7R/ER, 5BB, 4K, 2HR)
after throwing behind Ken Griffey, Jr. in the 4th inning...Did not get a decision in the 10-8 Tribe win after being
tossed w/a 7-1 deficit and was later suspended for 6 games by MLB's Bob Watson on June 19 (He appealed and
elected to drop the appeal on June 24 and served the suspension, 6/24-30).
Recorded his 6th win in 7 decisions in his start at Atlanta on June 18, a 4-2 win over Mike Hampton (7.0IP, 6H,
2R/ER, 0BB, 7K)...He also won his next start on June 23 at Chicago, improving to 7-1 in the Tribe's 9-5 victory
6.0IP, 5H, 3R/ER, 3BB, 6SO, 2HR)...Upped his major league best winning % to .900 (9-1) by winning his start
vs. Oakland on July 11 (7.0IP, 6H, 1R/ER, 3BB, 5K), the most wins before the break for a Tribe pitcher since Bartolo
Colon in 2002...Matched his season/career-long winning streak by winning his 5th straight decision/10th win
overall in start of July 16 at Seattle (6.0IP, 4H, 3R/ER, 6K)...He won 3 straight starts, July 6-16, and 5 of 6 starts
overall from June 18 - July 16 (6GS, 5-0, 3.58ERA, 37.2IP, 31H, 15ER, 34K).
The 5-game winning streak was snapped in start of July 21 vs. Chicago-AL as he fell to 10-2 on the year (4.0IP,
9H, 7R/ER, 2HR to Carlos Lee)...Worked a career-low 0.2IP in his 21st GS on July 26th vs. Detroit as he fell to
10-3 in his first losing streak of the year (0.2IP, 6H, 6R/ER, 40P)...Lost for then career worst 3rd straight start
in outing of August 2 @TOR (4.1IP, 8H, 6R/2ER)...Allowed a career-high 8 runs in start of August 17 @TEX (3.1
IP, 7H, 8R/ER) while losing his 4th consecutive decision.
Lost team-high 6th straight decision in his start at New York on Sept. 2 at New York (1.2IP, 5H, 6R/ER, 3-run HR
to A-Rod)...The 2004 team and personal-high 6-game losing streak was snapped in start of Sept. 8 at Seattle
5.0IP, 5H, 4R/ER, 3BB, 6K, 3HR) as 2 of his 5 second half wins came against Seattle in Safeco Field (went 9GS
w/o a win from 7/21-9/2)...Over the 9 starts he was 0-6 w/a 10.51 ERA (37.2IP, 59H, 48R/44ER) to raise his season
ERA total from 3.81 to 5.48.
Won his career-best 12th game in start vs. Minnesota on Sept. 23 (5.2IP, 8H, 5ER, 7K) before notching 2nd
straight win and 13th on the season on Sept. 28 at KC (6.1IP, 3H, 1R, 6K), his then longest start of the second
half ...Won his last 3 starts on the year, including his 14th and final win of the year in start of Oct. 3 at Minnesota
7.0IP, 5H, 2R/ER, 0BB, 6K, 0 AB's w/RISP)...Over his last 3 starts he was 3-0 w/a 3.79 ERA (19.0IP, 16H, 8ER,
4BB, 19K)... Over his last 5 starts after 1.2IP outing at New York he was 4-1 w/a 5.14 ERA (28.0IP, 25H, 16ER)
& fanned 31 batters in 28.0IP (10.0K/9.0IP)...Over his last 13 starts he was 4-7 w/a 8.27 ERA (65.1IP, 84H,
60ER)...ERA after June 1 was 6.71 (119.1IP, 138H, 89ER).
Batters hit .315 (47-149) off him w/RISP, .269 (18-67) with RISP-2outs, and .273 (81-297) w/runners on...Was
T7th in walks allowed (81)...ERA in the 1st inning was 7.16 (32.2IP, 44H, 30R/26ER, .324 average against)...Allowed
9 steals to 5CS against...Batters were 2 for 12 (.167) off him with the bases loaded... Average vs. LHP (.231) was
17th best among AL pitchers...Was 3-0 vs. the Twins.
2003
Lee put together a solid season after spending the first two months of the season on the disabled list with a
lower abdominal strain and a sports hernia...Originally felt discomfort in the region during the minor league winter
development program in the off-season and was placed on the 60-day DL on 3/29 after being limited to just 1 bullpen
session in spring training (had surgery following the season)...He spent most of April and May in extended spring
before making a rehab start at A Kinston on 5/29 (4.1IP, 0H, 1R/0ER, 3BB, 4K)...He was activated from the 60-day
DL on 5/30 and optioned to AA Akron...He split June between Akron and AAA Buffalo, going 3-0 w/a 1.93 ERA
(28.0IP, 22H, 6ER, 14BB, 28K) in 5 starts before being recalled on 6/29 for a spot start and his 2003 major league
debut on 6/30 at Kansas City in G1 of a DH...In that game (G1) of 6/30 at KC he picked up his 1st major league win
in the 10-5 win (6.0IP, 3H, 2R/0ER, 3BB, 5K)...Was optioned back to AAA Buffalo after the win and made 8 more
AAA starts before returning to Cleveland in mid-August...Began his second stint with the Tribe after being recalled
on 8/16...Improved to 2-1 with his finest start as a big leaguer on 8/22 in St. Pete against Tampa Bay, working
career-high 8.0IP with career/season-best 7K (later equaled three more times)...After his return in August he went
2-3 w/a 4.08 ERA in 8 starts (46.1IP, 38H, 21ER) and worked into the 6th inning in 6 of those starts...Had surgery
to repair the hernia on 10/8 by Dr. Bill Meyers in Philadelphia, PA.
2002
Split the season between the Montreal and Cleveland organizations, winning 12 games in the minor leagues
before making 2 impressive starts in September with the Indians...Spent the first three months of the 2002 season
at AA Harrisburg, where he was 7-2 w/a 3.23 ERA (86.1 IP, 61 H, 31 R/ER, 23 BB, 105 SO, 12 HR) in 15 starts before
being acquired along with three others in exchange for Bartolo Colon...Won 4 straight decisions from 4/19-5/10
and did not receive his first loss of the year at Harrisburg until 5/21...Thru the end of May he was 6-1 w/a 2.39
ERA over his first 11 starts (64.0 IP, 42 H, 17 ER, 79 SO)...Struck out a season-high 12 on 5/21 vs. Trenton in his
first loss of the season (6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R/ER, 1 BB, 12 SO)...He was named the Expos Minor League Player of the
Month for the month of May (4-1, 2.11 ERA, 6 GS)...During his tenure at Harrisburg he was selected to appear in
the Double A All-Star Game as his 105 SO were 1st in the Eastern League and his 3.23 ERA ranked 7th at the time
of the trade...Was assigned to Akron (Harrisburg was in Akron at the time of the trade) and made his Akron debut
on 7/1 vs. Bowie (W, 5.0 IP, 1 H, 4 R/3 ER, 5 BB, 4 K)...Made 2 additional starts in Akron before being promoted to
AAA Buffalo on 7/18...Was leading Eastern League in strikeouts at time of his promotion to AAA Buffalo and
allowed only 11 hits and struck out 18 in 16.2 innings with the Aeros...Combined on the year at Double A with
Harrisburg and Akron he went 9-3 w/a 3.58 ERA in 18 starts (103.0 IP, 72 H, 41 ER, 33 BB, 123 SO)...Did not win
over any of his last 5 regular season starts and 1 playoff start at Buffalo, striking out 11 in a no-decision vs.
Scranton (6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER)...Went 0-2 in August for Buffalo w/a 5.40 ERA (23.1 IP, 21 H, 14 ER)...On the year minor
league hitters hit a combined .205 (108-528) off him...RH minor league hitters hit .218 (95-436, 17 HR) and lefties
hit .141 (13-92, 3 HR)...Contract was purchased from AAA Buffalo on 9/13 after the conclusion of the International
League playoffs and made his major league debut on 9/15 vs. Minnesota...Fell to 0-1 in the 5-0 Twins victory
despite allowing only 2 hits and 1 run over 5.1 IP...Made his 2nd and final start on 9/21 at Kansas City, allowing
just 1 run and 4 hits over 5.0 innings of work in a no-decision...After the season he was named the fifth best
prospect in the Indians organization by
Baseball America.
2001
Spent his first full professional season in 2001 at Jupiter of the Florida State League, yielding only 78 hits
in 109.2 IP while fanning a 129 batters, the 3rd highest total in the FSL...His 10.53 SO/9.0 IP led all league starters
and his .213 average against as a starter was the 5th lowest mark among FSL starters...Was also 5th w/11.24
runners allowed per 9.0 IP and 13 HR allowed...Tossed 8.0 innings with no-hits allowed on 8/4 vs. St. Lucie (1 BB,
10 SO) after a rehabbing pitcher started the game...Had two other starts with 10 strikeouts.
2000
Was selected out of the University of Arkansas by the Montreal Expos in the 4th round of the 2000 draft and
made 11 starts that year for Cape Fear of the South Atlantic League where he was a teammate of Brandon Phillips.
