Lee starts game 1

FAYETTEVILLE – Former University of Arkansas pitcher Cliff Lee is the headline for the Texas Rangers as they make their first World Series appearance on Wednesday night in San Francisco, Calif., against the San Francisco Giants beginning at 6:57 p.m.

Lee, who played for Arkansas is 2000, was a fourth-round draft pick by the Montreal Expos that season and has gone on to have a stellar professional career with the Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies, Seattle Mariners and Rangers. He won the 2008 American League Cy Young Award and was the starting pitcher in for the American League in the All-Star Game that season. He returned to the All-Star Game in 2010 and is making his second appearance in the World Series in as many years.

Lee is making his third World Series start on Wednesday night and is the second Razorback to start a World Series contest. Former Razorback Tim Lollar is the other Hog to get a starting nod when he began game three of the 1984 World Series for the San Diego Padres against the Detroit Tigers.

Brilliant in the post season over the last two seasons, Lee is 7-0 with a stellar 1.26 earned run average in eight starts. He has pitched 64.1 innings and allowed just 40 hits and 12 runs while striking out 67 and issuing just seven walks. Pitching for Philadelphia in the 2009 Fall Classic, Lee went 2-0 with a 2.81 ERA and pitched 16 innings, striking out 13 and walking just three.