Manuel tabs Lee for Phillies' Game 1 start

[October 07, 2009]  PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Cliff Lee will start Game 1 of the NL division series for the Philadelphia Phillies against Colorado on Wednesday.

The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner got the nod over Cole Hamels, who was MVP of the World Series and NLCS last year. Lee was 7-4 with a 3.39 ERA in 12 starts after the Phillies acquired him from Cleveland on July 29.

Lee, however, was shaky after an excellent start in Philadelphia. The left-hander was 2-4 with a 6.13 ERA in his last seven starts after going 5-0 with a 0.68 ERA in his first five. Overall, Lee was 14-13 with a 3.22 ERA in a career-high 231 innings this season.

Hamels struggled all year, hardly pitching like the dominant ace who went 4-0 last October. Hamels was 10-11 with a 4.32 ERA this season.

[Associated Press; By ROB MAADDI]

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