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PHI@BAL: Lee strikes out eight through six innings

If Cliff Lee feels as though he's been hit with a bout of bad luck this season, a quick look at the Blue Jays' rotation should put things in perspective.

Sure, Lee is winless despite a 3.18 ERA and his usually dominant strikeout totals, but at least he's still on the mound.

That's more than can be said for three-fifths of the Blue Jays' rotation, as Drew Hutchison on Friday became the third starter this week Toronto has had to pull because of injury.

Hutchison made only nine pitches before leaving with soreness in his right arm. Earlier in the week, Brandon Morrow (strained left oblique) and Kyle Drabek (torn ulnar collateral ligament) were placed on the disabled list.

Trying to buck that trend on Saturday will be left-hander Ricky Romero, who is coming off his shortest start of the season after giving up four runs (three earned) on eight hits in just four innings on Sunday against Atlanta.

Lee also tied his shortest start of the season his last time out, allowing four runs on seven hits in six innings against Baltimore.

Still, manager Charlie Manuel is confident that Lee's turnaround is right around the corner.

"Cliff is going to throw a gem sooner than later," Manuel said. "I think he will go on one of his streaks where he wins and he shuts people out, too. Hopefully, it starts Saturday. That's how I look at it."

Phillies: Errors proving costly
• In the fourth inning on Friday, the Phillies committed their 13th error in their last nine games when third baseman Mike Fontenot fielded a one-hopper and threw it into right field, allowing Jose Bautista to score. Opponents have scored against Philadelphia in nine of the last 10 innings in which the team committed an error.

The Phillies had made just 13 errors in the 27 games before this stretch.

• Hunter Pence is hitting .412 during his eight-game on-base streak.

• The Phillies entered Friday's series opener averaging a Major League-best 5.12 runs per game on the road but were shut out for the first time since April 18.

Blue Jays: Johnson staying consistent
• With his 2-for-3 outing on Friday, second baseman Kelly Johnson has reached base safely in 31 of his last 34 games and 50 of 59 contests this season.

Worth noting
• Blue Jays left fielder Rajai Davis is 6-for-11 with a double and a triple in his career against Lee.

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