Burleson notches 3 RBIs in Cards' offensive outburst vs. Wheeler
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ST. LOUIS -- When the Cardinals stranded the tying run on third to end the eighth inning of Monday’s series-opening clash with the Phillies, the prospect of a series win seemed to dissipate before the first game of the series had officially concluded.
The Phillies' bullpen was thin that night after a grueling recent stretch of usage, yet rookie Andrew Painter was able to pitch into the sixth inning before allowing a hit.
St. Louis' late surge against a beleaguered Philadelphia bullpen fell short, and two of the National League’s top starters -- Cristopher Sánchez and Zack Wheeler -- loomed for the remainder of the midweek set.
On paper, the Cardinals were in trouble.
But in a year where St. Louis has relished its role in defying expectations, Wednesday’s 7-1 win over the Phillies at Busch Stadium to secure a series win should come as no surprise.
One day after the Cardinals eked out a win despite a scoreless effort against Sánchez, the bats came to life on Wednesday afternoon. St. Louis notched five runs against Wheeler, pinning four earned runs on the three-time All-Star as the Cardinals (61-60) propelled their record back above .500.
The Cards carried their consistent plate approach into matchups with the Phillies' 'pen, taking advantage of lefty reliever José Alvarado’s flimsy command of the strike zone. Alvarado walked three of the five batters he faced in a two-run bottom of the seventh.
Kyle Leahy followed Tuesday’s splendid six-inning performance from Andre Pallante with another standout effort under the sweltering St. Louis sun. Leahy fanned six Phillies in five innings, allowing just one run to trim his rotation-best ERA down to 3.38 for the season.
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For Leahy, Wednesday’s start marked the ninth in a row in which the first-year big league starter has allowed two or fewer runs.
Alec Burleson’s two-hit day added three RBIs to the Cardinals’ ledger in the win, giving the first baseman five hits and six RBIs across the three-game series.