By MATT PIKE
The St. Louis Cardinals battled with the Philadelphia Phillies but saw their late inning rally fall short, scoring three runs in the eighth inning, but falling 6-5 in the series opener at Busch Stadium.
In a series clash that could have serious playoff implications, the Phillies took the lead first in the game, Derek Hill reaching first on a throwing error by Cardinals pitcher Hunter Dobbins and scoring Brandon Marsh, before later scoring on an RBI single by former Cardinal Edmundo Sosa. In the fifth inning, Bryce Harper grounded into a double play, driving in Kyle Schwarber to put the Phillies up 3-0 through the first five innings.
Dobbins exited after the fifth inning, taking the loss and falling to 2-3 on the season, giving up three runs, two unearned, on four hits while striking out six and walking three. A two RBI single from Alec Burleson in the bottom of the sixth inning cut the Phillies lead to one run, scoring JJ Wetherholt and Iván Herrera. But in the seventh inning, Schwarber got a run back with an RBI double, bringing home Garrett Stubbs, to put Philadelphia up 4-2.
In the top of the eighth, the Phillies added their final two runs, Sosa driving in Marsh and Justin Crawford with a two RBI double. The Cardinals started to rally in the bottom half of the inning, Burleson scoring Herrera on an RBI double to cut the Phillies lead in half. An RBI double by Masyn Winn scored Burleson with one out, moving Jordan Walker to third, and Walker scored on an RBI single from José Fermín to make it 6-5. With Winn on third, Jimmy Crooks struck out and pinch hitter Bryan Torres lined out to center to end the inning.
Former Royal Jonathan Bowlan pitched a clean ninth inning for the Phillies earning his first save to secure the victory. At the plate, Burleson was 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, and three RBIs. Fermín was 1-for-2 with an RBI and two walks.
St. Louis and Philadelphia continue their series tomorrow. Andre Pallante (12-6, 3.63 ERA, 90K's) takes the mound for the Cardinals against Cristopher Sánchez (15-4, 2.65 ERA, 174K's) for the Phillies. First pitch is at 6:45pm, coverage begins at 6:35 on KY 102 (102.5 FM).
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