By MATT PIKE
The St. Louis Cardinals got a boost from Alec Burleson who drove in three runs, including a two-run double during a four-run fifth inning against Zack Wheeler, and the Cardinals beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-1 at Busch Stadium for a third consecutive series win.
Burleson finished 5-for-10 with two doubles and five RBIs in the series as the Cardinals took two of three from the Phillies and moved one game over .500 (61-60) asboth teams are chasing a National League wild-card playoff spot. It also marked the first time the Cardinals have won three consecutive series this season.
St. Louis took a 1-0 lead in the second inning after Phillies first baseman Alex Bohm misplayed Jordan Walker’s grounder. Walker stole second and scored on Nathan Church’s double to left. The Phillies tied up the game in the fourth inning, just before the Cardinals four run outburst, as Bryce Harper doubled for Philadelphia and scored on another double by newest Phillie Luis Arraez.
All the Cardinals' runs in the fifth came in with two outs as St. Louis strung together four consecutive hits against Wheeler. Cardinals rookie JJ Wetherholt singled with two outs. Fellow rookie César Prieto scored, after leading off the inning with a single ending an 0-for-27 slump with his first hit of the season and second of his career, when Iván Herrera singled on a 3-2 fastball. Burleson followed Herrera's RBI single with a double to right to make it 4-1, and he scored on Jordan Walker’s double.
Kyle Leahy, who earned the win improving to 9-4, departed after the fifth inning, pitching five innings, allowing one run on six hits and no walks while struck out six. Justin Bruihl, Gordon Graceffo, and Luis Gastelum pitched the final four innings, giving up no hits, but walking two, while also striking out two batters combined.
Burleson added an RBI single in the seventh inning, driving in Wetherholt. The Cardinals scored the final run on a sacrifice fly from Church, bringing home Herrera. At the plate on the day, Burleson was 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. Church was 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
St. Louis is off Thursday before the Cardinals begin a series against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Friday. Matthew Liberatore (5-9, 5.15 ERA, 110K's) is set to start for the Cardinals against a Chicago pitcher to be announced. First pitch on Friday is at 1:20pm, coverage begins at 1:10 on KY 102 (102.5 FM).
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