(SportsNetwork.com) – The St. Louis Cardinals haven’t lost a series this
season and will try to move one step closer of cementing that fact when they
resume a four-game set Wednesday versus the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Cardinals are 5-0-1 in series play this season and evened this matchup
versus the Phillies with Tuesday’s convincing 11-5 victory. One night after
dropping a 4-1 decision in the series opener, the Cardinals’ bats came alive
and five players finished with two or more hits.
Matt Adams and Matt Holliday had three hits and an RBI apiece, while Jon Jay,
Matt Carpenter and Kolten Wong each provided two hits. Jay, Adams, Yadier
Molina and starting pitcher Michael Wacha all had two RBI.
“That’s the type of offense we have,” Jay said. “We just have to keep on
playing hard every day and good things will happen.”
Wacha didn’t have his best stuff, but was able to push his record to 4-0 even
though he allowed four runs and six hits in 5 2/3 frames. Wacha permitted one
run in each of his first three starts this season.
Carpenter has 12 doubles through 19 games this season. His 11 two-base hits
over the initial 18 contests matched Joe Medwick’s number through as many
games back in 1937. Medwick recorded 56 doubles that year to lead the NL.
St. Louis has won 10 of the last 13 games and secured its eighth straight
season with 13 or more April victories. It will also take on Pittsburgh and
the Chicago Cubs on this 11-game homestand.
Carlos Martinez will start for the Cardinals Wednesday and aims to keep his
unbeaten record intact. He is 2-0 with a 1.35 earned run average in four games
(3 starts) and threw seven shutout innings in Friday’s 3-0 win at Milwaukee.
He matched a season high with eight strikeouts and walked two.
Martinez has allowed a total of three runs in his three starts and will face
the Phillies for a fifth time. The right-hander has a 1-0 record and a 3.38
ERA in four games (1 start) against them.
The Phillies had won two straight and three of four games until Tuesday’s loss
and young hurler Severino Gonzalez made his MLB debut on the mound. Gonzalez
was hit hard for seven runs and 10 hits in only 2 2/3 innings, walking two
batters with no strikeouts.
“Possibly jitters, but he didn’t establish both sides of the plate,” Phils
manager Ryne Sandberg said of Gonzalez. “Walks throughout the game came back
to haunt us.”
Chase Utley and Odubel Herrera had two RBI apiece, and Freddy Galvis recorded
three hits and two runs scored in defeat. Galvis has been one of the lone
bright spots for the Phillies’ lineup and is hitting .368 this season. He is
batting .529 with nine hits and six runs over the past five games.
Philadelphia is scheduled to visit Miami and Atlanta on this trip.
The Phillies will send veteran Aaron Harang to the bump Wednesday evening and
he is 2-1 with a 1.37 earned run average. He has lasted at least six innings
in all four starts and pitched a season-high eight scoreless frames in
Friday’s 1-0 win over his former Atlanta club.
Harang permitted just two hits, struck out six and walked one for the
Phillies, who are 3-1 when he takes the hill. Harang has plenty of experience
against the Cardinals in his career, going 7-15 with a 4.27 ERA in 27 starts.
Philadelphia was 4-3 against St. Louis last season.
