Friday, August 24, 2012

MATCH THIS ROGER. SPACEMAN BILL LEE HURLS COMPLETE GAME AT AGE 65

Roger Clemens's task of making an impressive comeback as a 50-year-old when he pitches for the Sugar Land (TX) Skeeters in a nationally-televised Atlantic League game Saturday night (ESPN Classic)may be a little tougher today thanks to a sterling performance by 65-year-old Bill (Spaceman) Lee Thursday night.

While the second-year North American League isn't likely to strike fear in the more established Atlantic League anytime soon, Lee's performance deserves attention.

The lefty went all nine innings in pitching host San Rafael, CA to a 9-4 victory over rival Maui, HA before a capacity crowd of 1,265 at Albert Park. Those two teams are now tied for the North Division lead heading into a pre-arranged three-game playoff series starting Friday night.

"One of the greatest performances I've ever seen on a baseball field," proclaimed San Rafael manager and longtime major league outfielder Mike Marshall. "I feel like Jack Buck, 'I can't believe what I just saw', said Marshall in quoting the late, legendary Buck's comment after Kirk Gibson's dramatic pinch-hit home run in the 1988 World Series.

Lee allowed eight hits and did not walk or strike out a single hitter.

Lee had high praise for his batterymate, D. J. Dixon, who was born in December of 1982, the same year the pitcher finished his major league career. "We worked fast," Lee said, "and the guys played well. (Maui) thought they had a walk in the park, and now they gotta scramble for the next three games." Dixon gave the Pacifics their final lead with a bases-clearing extra base hit.

Lee also hit ninth and drove in San Rafael's first run with a line single to right in the fifth inning.

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