In the searchable database at Baseball-Reference.com, which dates back to 1954, Carlton's stretch is the only one for the franchise in which a pitcher has won six consecutive starts and allowed one earned run or less in each of the starts.
And now Cliff Lee has five.
His record for the Phillies is 5-0. His ERA since the trade from Cleveland is 0.68. His work yesterday against the Mets - a day when Phils manager Charlie Manuel praised Lee's persistence but said "I've seen him better" - fell somewhere south of perfection and somewhere north of professional: seven innings, two runs (neither earned), six hits, five strikeouts, no walks.
The last Phillies pitcher to win his first five starts was Marty Bystrom, the September call-up in 1980. The similarity ends there, though. Bystrom was a youthful revelation, a joyful surprise. This feels different. Lee seems more like a machine operating at full capacity, like a professional exterminator.
"I expect to go out there every time and get deep into the game and give the team a chance, and that's what I've done and that's what I will continue to expect out of myself," Lee said.
Each game has been a little different for Lee, which has made this run all the more impressive. As catcher Paul Bako said: "He wasn't quite as sharp early, but he got better as the game went along . . .
"I'm sure there have been plenty of guys who have won five straight starts and what-have-you. But, I mean, as many strikes as he throws and as many different weapons as he has, obviously he's hard to beat. He's a competitor and he throws a lot of fastballs, which is refreshing. He's not trying to trick guys - he's going right after them."
It is the strikes that make all the difference - 83 in 113 pitches yesterday.
