"As Cliff Lee fouled off fastball after fastball, the rumble in the stands intensified, until the left-handed pitcher did something at the plate that few other Phillies could on this day: emphatically contacted bat with ball.

Lee's third-inning home run -- the first of his nine-year big league career -- turned out to be the only run the home nine would score Saturday against the Braves' imposing pitching staff. Instead of sparking a second straight victory, the memorable blast proved to be the lone highlight in a frustrating defeat.

In the moment, though, it was easy to perceive the homer as another dose of Citizens Bank Park magic.

First, Lee took a page out of the Brett Myers handbook, fouling away five straight Tommy Hanson darts after taking two balls to start the at-bat.

With pitch eight came a tantalizing curveball, but Lee did not bite. So Hanson went back to the heater and again Lee fouled it back.

In the dugout, a crazy thought popped into cleanup hitter Ryan Howard's head.

"If he'd have hit that," Howard said, "it might've had a chance."

The foul ball brought a thunderous applause, which was soon drowned out by deafening cheers. On pitch 10, Lee launched Hanson's tailing, high-and-away fastball into the clear air before it eventually landed in section 121's front row, above on-looking Atlanta rightfielder Jason Heyward.

"I hit it pretty good," Lee said in a characteristic understatement after the game.

Call it a mix of Myers' famous 2008 duel with then-Brewers ace C.C. Sabathia capped off with a touch of Joe Blanton in World Series Game 4 — though the last Phils pitcher to hit a home run was actually Chan Ho Park in Florida on April 25, 2009. The feat drew a rousing standing ovation from the 45,647 at the ballpark, culminating in a curtain call."