"Cliff Lee didn't make his best pitches in the game's crucial moments. Thanks to his work at the plate, that turned out not to matter.

The Phillies' left-hander came to bat in the bottom of the sixth inning on Thursday, minutes after squandering a 4-2 lead by surrendering a two-run home run to Jay Bruce.

He promptly delivered a two-run double to put the Phillies back on top of the Cincinnati Reds for good on their way to a 10-4 victory.

Lee added an RBI single in the next inning to become the first Phillies pitcher since Cory Lidle in 2004 to knock in three or more runs in one game.

A little more than 15 hours after utility infielder Wilson Valdez became the first major league player since Babe Ruth in 1921 to be a winning pitcher after starting the game at another position, the Phillies received their biggest offensive contribution from their starting pitcher.

For a team that's managed to maintain the best record (31-19) in the National League despite struggling offensively for long stretches, that makes as much sense as anything, according to first baseman Ryan Howard.

"This game is just crazy," he said. "You just never know what you're going to see. And for Wilson to do what he did last night and Cliff to come out here and do what he did today ... it's full of surprises."

Lee, who pitched the first eight innings before giving way to Jose Contreras, was trying mostly to give his bullpen some relief coming off a 19-inning marathon the night before. Contreras, who was activated from the disabled list before Thursday's game, pitched a scoreless ninth in his first action since April 21st.

"Nobody said anything about [going deep into the game]," Lee said, "but obviously I knew that and I try to get as deep into the game as I can every time, regardless. So I know I needed to get deep into the game to try to help out the bullpen. A lot of guys threw a lot more than they were used to."

Lee threw 114 pitches, including two that he'd like to have back.

The first came when he gave up a two-run single through the left side to Paul Janish with two outs in the fourth inning. That came after Raul Ibanez had belted a three-run homer in the bottom of the third to give the Phils a 4-0 lead."