Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

After a very uncharacteristic outing the last time on the mound, Cliff Lee gave the Philadelphia Phillies the kind of performance for which they're paying him $20 million a year: a complete-game, 3-hit, 12-strikeout shutout accomplished in just 99 pitches.

Don't say, "Well, it was just the Washington Nationals." Even with Ryan Zimmerman disabled, the Nats are better this year. Just shipping Nyger Morgan off anywhere and out of the lead-off spot was a step up for Washington and manager Jim Riggleman, the one-time Arkansas Travs' skipper. Still, on Thursday the Nationals and former Phillie Jayson Werth couldn't break through against Lee in a 4-0 loss. In the 7th inning, Lee fanned all three Nats, including Werth and Rick Ankiel.

According to HardballTalk, Benton native Lee was the first pitcher since St. Louis' Chris Carpenter in 2009 to toss a shutout with fewer than 100 pitches.

With Roy Halladay's near-blanking (3-2) of Washington on Wednesday night in D.C., it marked back-to-back complete games for the Phillies staff since 1999.

Here's video from MLB.com on Thursday night, and an interview after the game with Lee, the former Razorback who returned to the Phillies through free agency during the off-season. The 12 strikeouts were one shy of his career-game high. It's the 11th time in his career he's fanned 10 or more batters.

"Locating Fastballs was the name of the game out there and mixing speeds here and there," Lee said.

"Basically locating fastballs was the key to success tonight, that and making plays," he added, crediting the Phils' defense.

This is what scares the rest of the National League: The Phillies come back with Roy Oswalt today at home against the Florida Marlins.

Here's how the Washington Post saw Lee's gem.

Last Friday's 6-3 loss at the hands of the Braves sent Lee's ERA over 7 runs, but he's back to 4.19 over three games. Lee had 11 strikeouts in 9-4 win over the Astros in Philadelphia's second game of the year; he gave up three runs before the relief staff took over.

RICH GET RICHER: College basketball fans expect Connecticut to show up every year on the recruiting lists of many top high school players, but after the Huskies' third national title in 12 years, they seem to be the hot name among most of the top 17-and-under players coming to Little Rock this weekend for the Real Deal in the Rock.

These are the players who will be signing with colleges starting in November. So, even though the Huskies have seen star guard Kemba Walker bypass his senior year and enter the NBA Draft, they'll return the bulk of last year's team and then likely welcome in more NBA-type talent the next season. Basically put, UConn isn't going away, and maybe veteran Coach Jim Calhoun won't be anytime soon, either.