"Cliff Lee wanted a chance to redeem himself, a chance to show everyone he could bounce back and hold the Padres to five runs.

And certainly after watching Roy Halladay slam the door on the Padres a day earlier after giving up three runs in four innings — Halladay then retired the final 10 batters he faced — Lee had his heart set on doing much the same Monday.

Then Lee got word in the dugout in the bottom of the fourth inning that he wouldn't get that chance.

"They told me they were pinch-hitting for me," Lee said. "There was nothing I could do. It's [manager Charlie Manuel's] job to do everything he can to help the team win, and he felt like that was the best decision. I don't have to accept or like it. He makes those calls. I don't even have to understand."

With the Phillies cutting the Padres' lead to three runs in the fourth, Carlos Ruiz kept the rally going with a one-out RBI single that made it a two-run game.

That's when Lee was told to have a seat. Ben Francisco, who represented the tying run, would be pinch- hitting.

"He didn't want to come out of the game. He's competitive," Manuel said. "I don't want him to want to come out of the game. He didn't like that, but at the same time I felt at that time it was what we wanted to do."

Surely watching Francisco, who came into the game batting .224, hit into an inning-ending double play didn't make things any easier on Lee, who's hitting .209 (9-for-43) with six RBIs this season.

"He's doing his job. I'm trying to do my job," Lee said. "I don't want to come out after four innings. I don't know any starting pitcher that does."

It wound up being a good move from a pitching standpoint. The bullpen took over and held the Padres scoreless. Andrew Carpenter, Brad Lidge and Michael Stutes combined to face just one over the minimum in the final five innings of the Phillies' 5-4 loss in the final game of a four-game series against San Diego at Citizens Bank Park.

The play that came back to haunt the Phillies happened in the second inning. The Padres, who had already plated two runs, had runners at the corners. Lee said he got the pickoff sign from Ruiz, prompting a throw to first base."