Cardinals run win streak to nine, top Phillies 3-2 in battle

By MATT PIKE

St. Joseph Post

Masyn Winn struggled against left handed pitchers much of this season, after hitting nine of his 15 home runs off southpaws last year, but remembered how to hit off of them on Monday against the Phillies, helping the Cardinals push their win streak to nine games in a 3-2 win on the road at Citizens Bank Park. 

It was Pedro Pagés that got the Cardinals on the board first though in the fourth inning, a single driving in Nolan Arenado who walked to open the inning, but in the bottom half of the inning former Cardinals Edmundo Sosa singled for Philadelphia to score J.T Realmuto to tie up the game at 1-1. 

Iván Herrera homered in the top of the sixth inning to give the Redbirds the lead back, but again in the bottom half of the inning it was the Phillies coming back to knot the game back up, Realmuto grounding into a forceout, the All Star catcher reaching first safely but Nick Castellanos being thrown out at second, as Kyle Schwarber was driven in to tie up the game at 2-2. 

It was Winn’s home run in the seventh inning that was the deciding factor, a 377 foot blast to left center field.  Kyle Leahy remained on the mound after finishing out the sixth inning and pitched the seventh inning, earning the win.  Ryan Helsley pitched the ninth and notched his eighth save of the season striking out two batters. 

Lars Nootbaar was the only Cardinal with multiple hits on the day, going 2-4 at the plate.  Winn and Herrera were each 1-3 both also walking once and driving in one run with their solo home runs. 

St. Louis and Philadelphia continue their series tomorrow.  Sonny Gray (4-1, 3.50 ERA) takes the mound as the Cardinals look to push their win streak to double digits, taking on Jesús Luzardo (3-0, 2.11 ERA) for the Phillies.  First pitch is at 5:45pm, with pregame being joined at 5:35 on KY 102 (102.5 FM).

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.