PHILADELPHIA -- Andrew Painter checked off just about every box imaginable on Saturday night.
Velocity? Check. Command? Check. Nasty secondary pitches? Check.
Best start of his young career? Emphatic check.
The Phillies' resurgent rookie was in full command all night long in a 12-3 rout of the Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park. Painter led the way as the Phillies won their eighth straight game to pull within three games of the first-place Braves in the National League East.
Painter allowed just one run while pitching a career-high seven innings -- and that doesn't come close to telling the full story.
Painter forced 20 swings and misses, easily surpassing his previous high of 14. He also reached the 100-pitch mark for the first time in his career -- and he did so without slowing down one bit ... literally.
On his 100th pitch of the night, Painter unleashed a 99.6 mph fastball to Cardinals outfielder Jordan Blaze. It was the fastest pitch of Painter's young career.
But the fastball was far from the only thing he had working on Saturday night. Painter induced six whiffs with his changeup, five with his four-seamer, four with his sweeper, three with his slider and two with his curveball.
Painter threw first-pitch strikes to 22 of the 27 batters he faced. He now has a 3.62 ERA in five starts since returning from his June 17 demotion to Triple-A.
Meanwhile, he got plenty of support on a night when every Phillies starter recorded at least one hit. Bryce Harper hit his 389th career home run in the sixth inning and Kyle Schwarber hit his 378th career homer -- and MLB-leading 38th of the season -- in the eighth.
It all resulted in the Phillies earning their third straight win in a game started by Painter. They had won only one of his previous 14 outings.