The St. Louis Cardinals were able to beat one of the National League’s best pitchers Wednesday as Alec Burleson’s 3 RBI’s helped the Cardinals beat the Phillies and win the series.
Kyle Leahy was excellent again for the Cardinals as he threw 5 innings Wednesday allowing just 6 hits while striking out 6 and walking no one. He outpitched Zack Wheeler who also lasted 5 innings, but surrendered 6 hits while giving up 4 earned runs while striking out 5 and walking 1.
The St. Louis Cardinals were able to break through against Wheeler in the bottom of the 2nd inning when Jordan Walker hit a screaming single off an infielder’s glove and then stole second. Nathan Church then sliced a 93 mph four-seam Wheeler fastball down the left field line for a double that scored Walker and gave the Cardinals an early 1-0 advantage.
The Phillies tied the game in the top of the 4th inning when Bryce Harper and Luis Arraez hit back-to-back doubles making it 1-1. The Cardinals would not just take back the lead in the bottom of the 5th inning, but break the game wide open after Prieto got his first hit of the year singling to lead off the inning. Two batters later, JJ Wetherholt singled advancing Prieto to third. Ivan Herrera singled in Prieto giving the Cardinals their lead back at 2-1. That would be followed by back-to-back doubles from Alec Burleson and Jordan Walker upping the Cardinals lead to 5-1 after 5 innings.
The Cardinals would add a couple runs in the bottom of the 7th inning thanks to another Alec Burleson RBI single and a Nathan Church sacrifice fly making it 7-1 Cardinals.
The St. Louis Cardinals bullpen did an excellent job holding the Phillies scoreless for the last half of the game. Justin Bruihl, Gordon Graceffo and Luis Gastelum threw a total of 4 scoreless innings locking up a series-winning victory for the Cardinals who now head to Chicago for another crucial series against the Chicago Cubs.
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