Sosa & Schwarber Light Up St. Louis as Phillies Survive Late Cardinals Scare

ST. LOUIS — The Phillies turned Busch Stadium into their personal playground Monday night, scratching out a 6-5 win over the Cardinals that was equal parts dominance, chaos, and pure grit.

Edmundo Sosa was the engine, driving in three runs, while Kyle Schwarber did his usual on-base demolition, reaching four times. But it was Andrew Painter who had everyone buzzing early.

Painter Deals Early Fire

The young right-hander carried a no-hitter into the sixth, striking out six and looking untouchable. Then Iván Herrera doubled with one out, Alec Burleson followed with a two-run single, and suddenly it was a ballgame. Painter exited after 93 pitches, allowing two runs on two hits, but the Phillies' bullpen held on.

Jonathan Bowland slammed the door for his first save in four tries.

Sosa and Schwarber Say Not So Fast

Philadelphia struck first in the second when Brandon Marsh singled and scored on a Hunter Dobbins throwing error, before Sosa ripped an RBI single. Schwarber doubled in a run in the seventh, and Sosa put the game on ice with a two-run double in the eighth to make it 6-2.

That cushion mattered, because the Cardinals refused to go quietly. Burleson doubled home a run in the eighth, Masyn Winn and José Fermín delivered run-scoring hits, and suddenly it was a one-run game. But the Phillies survived.

Jordan Walker extended his hitting streak to 10 games — his fourth such streak this season — but it wasn't enough for St. Louis, which dropped its second in three.

Next Up

These two do it again Tuesday: Cristopher Sánchez (15-4, 2.65 ERA) vs. Andre Pallante (12-6, 3.63 ERA). Buckle up.