PHILADELPHIA — Cliff Lee showed his new fans some of his best stuff.
Lee pitched seven impressive innings in his home debut, Paul Bako hit a tiebreaking homer and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Colorado Rockies 3-1 Thursday.
Lee (2-0) allowed one run and six hits, striking out nine in his first start at Citizens Bank Park since the Phillies acquired him from Cleveland last week. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner tossed a complete-game, four-hitter in a 5-1 win at San Francisco last Friday.
“To get that first win at home out of the way, I’m really pleased with it,” Lee said. “The initial shock and adrenaline rush was over. It was my first one at home and I was anxious to get that behind me.”
Jimmy Rollins had three hits and scored two runs, falling a homer short of the cycle. The NL East-leading Phillies took two of three from the Rockies, who are in the thick of the wild-card chase.
Aaron Cook (10-4) allowed three runs and seven hits in five innings. The right-hander had won seven straight since losing June 1. Cook left the game with a strained right big toe.
“They pitched very well the last couple games,” Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. “I think we’re better offensively than we’ve shown the last two games.”
Lee, who went 7-9 with a 3.14 ERA in 22 starts for the Indians this season, won his fifth straight start dating to a loss at Detroit on July 10. The Phillies sent four minor leaguers to Cleveland for Lee and outfielder Ben Francisco.
“He keeps good composure on the mound,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “He gets the ball and he throws it. He gets in good rhythm. Guys behind him like it and everyone watching likes it.”
Ryan Madson pitched a scoreless eighth and Brad Lidge finished for his 21st save in 27 chances.
Mixing a sharp fastball with pinpoint accuracy on his offspeed pitches, Lee kept Colorado’s hitters off balance and fanned at least one batter in every inning. He got a nice ovation from the sellout crowd when he came to the plate in the third.
“The atmosphere was electric,” Lee said.
The Phillies scored two runs to take a 3-1 lead in the fifth. Bako, the backup catcher, drove a 1-0 pitch into the seats in right-center to start the inning. It was his first homer since last June 9, when he connected twice for Cincinnati against Florida.
“I’ve been scuffling lately at the plate,” Bako said. “It’s nice to contribute.”
Rollins hit a one-out triple to right-center and scored when second baseman Clint Barmes threw wild to the plate after fielding Shane Victorino’s bouncer.
Rollins has a 12-game hitting streak. He’s batting .338 (45 for 133) since an 0-for-28 slump and has raised his average to .245 from .205 on July 1.
“He’s staying short and quick,” Manuel said. “He’s staying strong through the ball and his swing isn’t underneath.”
Both teams got runs on sacrifice flies in the first.
Dexter Fowler led off with a double down the left-field line and Seth Smith followed with an infield single off shortstop Rollins’ glove. Todd Helton’s fly gave the Rockies a 1-0 lead.
Rollins started the bottom half with a double to left, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on Chase Utley’s fly to center.
NOTES: Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said J.A. Happ isn’t going to the bullpen to make room for Pedro Martinez. Amaro also indicated the team could employ a six-man rotation when Martinez comes off the DL. … Helton extended his hitting streak to 11 with an eighth-inning single. … Barmes is hitless in 22 at-bats.
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