Final score: Cardinals 3, Phillies 0
Some opportunities presented themselves, but Philadelphia’s offense continued its early-season struggles on Tuesday night.
The Phillies scattered eight hits but grounded into three double plays and struck out 13 times as they fell to right-hander Sonny Gray and the Cardinals, 3-0, in a shutout loss at Busch Stadium. Gray, in his season debut, tossed five scoreless innings to help St. Louis even the series; the rubber match for this three-game set will take place Wednesday afternoon.
A frustrating performance at the plate, the Phillies were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
Getting a late start to the season, Gray was on a pitch count in his first start as a Cardinal. He threw 64 pitches as he gutted out his five frames, getting a double play to escape trouble in the fifth.
Ace Zack Wheeler didn’t have his greatest stuff in St. Louis, but he battled and gave the Phillies (5-6) length just one night after they leaned on their bullpen to open up this series with an extra-inning victory. The right-hander threw seven innings and allowed three runs on six hits and a walk while striking out five.
Wheeler shut out the Cardinals through three innings, but Nolan Gorman opened the scoring in the bottom of the fourth with a home run to center field. St. Louis tacked on two more in the next innings on a Victor Scott II sacrifice fly and a Brendan Donovan RBI groundout.
The Phillies had baserunners at points throughout the game without doing much damage. They recorded no extra-base hits but failed to take advantage when they were able to put pressure on the Cardinals.
Philadelphia threatened hardest in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with one out on two infield singles and a walk. But former Phillie JoJo Romero shut things down as he struck out pinch hitter Whit Merrifield and leadoff man Kyle Schwarber to avoid damage.
Romero went back out for a scoreless eighth before the Cardinals handed the ball to Ryan Helsley to complete the save.
Injury Note
As a kick while the Phillies were down, catcher J.T. Realmuto exited the game in the bottom of the seventh inning after taking a ball in the dirt to his throat. Garrett Stubbs entered the game in his place.
Ticket IQ Next Game
- Wednesday, April 10 vs. St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium
- 1:15 p.m. Eastern
- NBC Sports Philadelphia
- 94 WIPthre
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Barbara Jean
April 10, 2024 at 4:34 am
Is this the same team many sportswriters called to go to the World Series this year? At least the Marlins and the Mets are fighting back against really great teams right now. This is a tough road this year. Hot and cold playing is not going to make it through 162 games this year.
PhillyPhan99
April 10, 2024 at 11:47 am
Barbara Jean
This happens every year. The Phillies are the reverse Pirates. The Pirates are one of the best teams in baseball in April, and then play just trying to reach .500 for the rest of the year. The Phillies act like a little league team in April and then act like a 100-win team for the rest of the year. Have some faith in the boys in Philly!