The Philadelphia Phillies beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 10-9, on Thursday night in Game 1 of their four-game series at Busch Stadium. Joe Blanton (4-4) struggled struggled mightily, yet again, giving 10 hits (two homers) and seven earned runs in 4 1/3 innings. He has a 13.50 ERA over his last two starts after starting the season with a 2.81 ERA over seven starts. Thankfully, Cardinals starter Jake Westbrook (4-3) was arguably worse.
The Phillies took a 6-0 lead after just two innings capped by a two-run double by Shane Victorino in the top of the second. By the time Westbrook left with one out to go in the fourth, he had given up eight hits and walked three batters. The Cards responded with four runs in the third inning. Blanton gave up three more runs in the fifth inning off home runs by Matt Holliday and Yadier Molina. Placido Polanco had hit an RBI-single in the top of the inning, making the score 7-7 after five.
Freddy Galvis batted in his third RBI of the night on a single in the sixth inning, and Mike Fontenot pinch-hit another to put the Phillies up 9-7 after six. David Freese homered off Chad Qualls to put the Cards back within one run after seven. Thankfully, a Ty Wigginton solo shot in the eighth (his third home run of the season) would prove to be the game-winner.
Skip Schumaker batted in one run on sac fly off Antonio Bastardo in the eighth inning to make the score 10-9, but Jonathan Papelbon gave up just one hit in the ninth to earn his 13th save of the year. Raul Valdes was given the win, his first on the year, for getting the Phillies out of the fifth after Blanton gave up two homers with just one out. Fernando Salas gave up four hits and two earned runs in the sixth to earn the loss.
Game 2 of the series will take place Friday at 8:15 p.m. ET at Busch Stadium. Cliff Lee (0-2, 2.66 ERA) will go up against the Cardinals' Kyle Lohse (5-1, 2.91) at the mound.
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