Cliff Lee was down-right filthy Wednesday night during his Philadelphia Phillies’ 6-1 victory in Game 1 of the World Series. The placid southpaw, donning a nasty spike curveball, lasted all night long.

Lee calmly allowed six hits and just one run, which didn’t even appear in the box score until a Jimmy Rollins throwing error allowed Derek Jeter to cross the plate with one out in the ninth inning.

Oh yeah, and he struck out ten New York Yankees, owners of the most potent lineup in baseball.

Chase Utley wasn’t so bad either. The Phillies second baseman nailed solo shots off CC Sabathia in the third and sixth innings, while first baseman Ryan Howard doubled twice and drove in the final run. Chutley stands alone as the only left-handed hitter to go deep off Sabathia at the New Yankee Stadium this season, proving to be the only run support General Lee really needed.

CC surrendered four hits over seven innings before giving way to the Yankees bullpen, who shelled out four runs on their own.

Fun Fact: The only other time Cy Young Award winners (back-to-back, no less) met in the World Series opener was back in 1995 when Cleveland’s Orel Hershiser faced Atlanta’s Greg Maddux.

Jeter saw some production at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a run scored, but Johnny Damon, Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui were the only other Pinstripers to reach base. Alex Rodriguez, reluctantly crowned by the media the “New Mr. October” following his clutch performances through the 2009 playoffs went hitless with three whiffs in his Fall Classic debut.

The Yanks may be as much as a -195 series favorite, but I’m going with J-Roll’s prediction of the Phils in five. Sportsbook.com currently has a ridiculous list of props available, if you’re looking to expand past simply betting on the outcome of the series, or one game in particular.

Old schooler Pedro Martinez will take the hill for the Phillies against righty A.J. Burnett in Game 2 Thursday night, airing at 7:57pm ET on FOX.

Related posts:

1. Philadelphia Phillies: Destiny to Dynasty?
2. Right Through The Very Heart Of It
3. Burnett Lights Up The Phils In Game 2
4. Rawlings Hands Out Gold Glove Hardware
5. The Clifton & Chutley Show