St. Louis, MO (My Sportsbook) - Rick Ankiel reached then scored on two crucial two-out Philadelphia errors in the 10th inning, as the
St. Louis Cardinals edged the Phillies 7-6, in the finale of a three-game set a Busch Stadium.
Troy Glaus and Skip Schumaker both homered and Ankiel had two hits with a run batted in for St. Louis, which won its second straight. Anthony Reyes (2-1) pitched a perfect tenth to earn the win.
Ryan Howard had two hits and four runs batted in and Pat Burrell had two RBI for Philadelphia, which has dropped two straight.
After retiring the first two in the 10th, Tom Gordon (5-4) was unable to reach an errant throw from Chase Utley at first, allowing Ankiel to reach base on a sure groundball out to second. Glaus then singled to left before Chris Duncan grounded to second. Utley made an accurate throw to Gordon covering, but this time Gordon just missed the throw, allowing Ankiel to cross home for the winning run.
Brett Myers, a model of inconsistency this season, struggled mightily yet again, surrendering six runs on eight hits over six frames in the no-decision for Philadelphia.
Mitchell Boggs, making just the second start of his major league career, allowed four runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings for St. Louis.
Philadelphia struck for a run in the first. Jimmy Rollins roped a single to left leading off and stole second. Howard delivered a two-out double off the base of the wall in right-center, plating Rollins.
Myers immediately gave up the lead in the bottom half. Schumaker doubled to left leading off and moved to third on a groundout. Ryan Ludwick then doubled to the gap in right-center, scoring one and Ankiel laced a double off the left field wall to score another.
Schumaker led off the third with a home run to the seats in right and after an Aaron Miles single, Glaus stroked a two-out, two-run shot to right-center for a four-run lead.
The Phillies stormed back in the fifth, batting around for three runs. Boggs loaded the bases with one out before Howard poked a single to right, scoring two and ending Boggs' outing. Kyle McClellan entered to face Pat Burrell, who singled to left plating the third run. Greg Dobbs drew a two-out walk to load the bases for the second time but Chris Coste was caught looking to end the inning.
St. Louis stretched its lead back to two in the sixth. Ankiel tripled off the wall in right and scored on a Howard error.
Philadelphia tied the score at six in the eighth with a two-out rally on one hit and four walks. Rollins stroked a two-out triple off Chris Perez, who started the seventh for St. Louis. Perez then walked Jayson Werth and Randy Flores entered and walked Utley to load the bases. Flores then walked Howard, forcing in a run. Russ Springer had to come on for Flores and he proceeded to walk Burrell, forcing in another run. Springer retired Geoff Jenkins on strikes to end the inning.
Ryan Franklin came on in the ninth for St. Louis and allowed a leadoff single to Dobbs, who moved to second on a sacrifice. Eric Bruntlett entered to pinch-run at second and moved to third on a Shane Victorino single to right.
Bruntlett then bowled over catcher Yadier Molina at home, trying to score on a Rollins groundout. Bruntlett was ruled out as Molina held on to the ball but the Cardinals backstop had to leave the game after his head and shoulder slammed into the dirt beside home plate.
Molina was put in a neck brace and removed from the field on a stretcher. Jason LaRue replaced him behind the plate. Franklin plunked Werth with a pitch after a lengthy injury delay, loading the bases with two out, but Utley flied out to end the inning.
Chad Durbin worked around a two-out single to Cesar Izturis to send the game to extras.
Game Notes
The Phillies concluded a nine-game road trip Sunday, going 5-4...Philadelphia took six of nine matchups from the Redbirds last season...Philadelphia left 15 men on base, St. Louis left six...The Phillies outscored the Cardinals 28-12 but St. Louis took two of three in the series...Molina was taken to a local hospital with back and neck pain.
