CLEVELAND — Slide over, Gaylord Perry. You finally have some company.
Perry, the legendary spitball king, entered Monday as the last Cleveland pitcher to post a 20-win season, accomplishing the feat over three decades ago when he went 21-13 in 1974.
He now has a sidekick in Cliff Lee, who added another milestone to an already magical season, winning his 20th game of the year in a 5-0 victory over the White Sox at Progressive Field.
“It has a nice ring to it. I like the sound of it,” Lee said when asked what it felt like to be a 20-game winner. “It’s nice to get that over with and behind me. I’m glad I got it over with the first try. I couldn’t have asked it to go any better. It was a neat experience, but it’s over.”
Lee, who earned victory No. 20 in his 27th start, is the fifth big league pitcher in the last four years to win 20 games. He accounts for the 56th time in franchise history that it’s taken place.
“He’s had a remarkable year,” said manager Eric Wedge. “In this day and age, 20-game winners, there’s not a lot of them to be had. It’s one of the toughest things to do in the game of baseball right now.”
Lee’s accomplishment ended the longest drought in the majors for a team between 20-game winners, and the left-hander provided the perfect script for the momentous occasion.
Winning for the ninth straight time that he took the mound, Lee crafted a five-hit shutout against one of the more formidable lineups in baseball to improve to 20-2 with an American League-leading 2.32 ERA.
Lee allowed hits to the first two batters he faced before assuming control of the game and retiring 21 straight hitters before a grounder from Paul Konerko got by a diving Jhonny Peralta at short with one out in the eighth inning.
By that time, it was clear Lee was on a path to history that would include no obstacles.
“He was mowing through them,” said catcher Kelly Shoppach.
As he did in the in the opening inning, Lee allowed the first two batters he faced to reach on singles in the ninth, but again no runs crossed the plate after Lee got A.J. Pierzynski to fly to left and Carlos Quentin to hit into a game-ending double play.
Progressive Field fans showered Lee with an ovation before he took the mound and a lustier one when he had finished his masterpiece, with Lee acknowledging them with a wave as he made his way off the field and into the dugout.
After the game, congratulatory video messages for Lee from Perry and six-time 20-game winner Bob Feller were shown on the videotron, while Lee and his teammates shared a champagne toast in the clubhouse.
It wasn’t all well-wishes and pats on the back for Lee, who was involved in banter with Chicago’s notorious antagonist Pierzynski that lasted until the final out.
Lee retired Pierzynski for the first out in the ninth and after getting the double play, looked into the White Sox dugout and pointed. A number of Chicago players remained in the dugout, including Pierzynski, as Lee was receiving his congratulations.
“He popped up and slammed his bat down (in the fourth inning) and stared at me,” Lee said. “So I gave him a little stare back. He was chirping from the dugout the whole game. It gave me a little extra motivation. I want to thank him for that.”
Pierzynski said Lee was the antagonist.
“It was one of those things,” he said. “I didn’t say anything to him the whole game. I give him credit for winning 20 games, congratulations.”
Indians hitters didn’t let Lee down, scoring early off Sox starter Clayton Richard, who lasted just four innings, while allowing four of Cleveland’s runs on six hits. With their ace on the mound going for history, the Indians had a little extra incentive, according to Wedge.
“It was a little bit different out there tonight,” he said.
Shin-Soo Choo continued his hot streak at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double, but as he has been since the start of the season, Lee was the story.
His rise to stardom has come on the heels of his worst season in the majors last year, when he lost his job in the rotation and was demoted to Triple-A Buffalo, having to earn a starting job in spring training.
Monday night marked the same date that Lee rejoined the Indians as a September call-up last year.
“You talk about somebody that went through a great deal unexpectedly last year,” Wedge said. “It’s a tremendous tribute to him and the commitment he made. These things don’t happen by accident.
“I’m a firm believer in mental toughness, and he’s shown a lot of it the last couple years.”
“I never lost confidence, even last year,” Lee said. “I never doubted my abilities. I don’t know if anyone can expect to win 20 games in a season, though.”
Now he can.
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.

TONIGHT

WHO: Cleveland vs. Chicago
TIME: 7:05
WHERE: Progressive Field
PITCHERS: Carmona (7-5, 4.50 ERA) vs. Danks (10-7, 3.30)
TV/RADIO: SportsTime Ohio; WEOL 930-AM, WTAM 1100-AM
 

In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement and discussion guidelines.

Need help? Email Us.