Lee works six solid innings against Red Sox
Lefty allows two runs on three hits with six strikeouts; Gwynn Jr. hits first homer
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Two of the best left-handers in baseball cruised on Friday, as the Red Sox and Phillies played to a 2-2 tie in 10 innings at Bright House Field.
Phillies left-hander Cliff Lee held the Red Sox scoreless through five before A.J. Pierzynski hit a two-out double to left field in the sixth inning.
Lee, who allowed three hits, two runs, one walk and struck out six in six innings, has a 2.75 ERA.
"Everything was really good until the last out," Lee said. "I walked [Jonny] Gomes, threw him a couple of pitches that I thought were really close that were called balls. I felt they could've gone either way, then he fouled off two 3-2 pitches. I felt like he got in swing mode, so I threw a changeup low and he took it. Pierzynski, he hit a fly ball to left that kept going, went off the wall."
Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings, walking one and striking out five, lowering his spring ERA to 0.71.
The Phillies tied the score at 2 with two runs in the eighth inning. Tony Gywnn Jr. hit his first spring homer, then Clete Thomas singled to score Jimmy Rollins with the tying run.
Up next: The Phillies travel to Bradenton, Fla., on Saturday to play the Pirates at 1:05 p.m. ET in a Grapefruit League game. Right-hander A.J. Burnett, who will pitch the second game of the season April 1 against the Rangers, gets the start. He is 1-2 with a 10.00 ERA in four appearances (three starts).