Andre Pallante and two relievers combined for a three-hitter as the St. Louis Cardinals blanked the visiting Philadelphia Phillies 2-0 Friday night
Pallante (2-0) held the Phillies to two hits and two walks over seven innings. He struck out four.
Phil Maton tossed a perfect eighth inning and Ryan Helsley worked around a single in the ninth for his second save.
Yohel Pozo went 3-for-4 with an RBI double for the Cardinals, who have won two of their past three games.
St. Louis shortstop Masyn Winn exited the game after the first inning due to back spasms.
Phillies starter Aaron Nola (0-3) allowed two runs on five hits and four walks in five innings. He fanned seven.
The Phillies, who have lost three of their past four contests, left two runners in scoring position in the first inning. With two outs, Bryce Harper walked and Kyle Schwarber singled him to second. After they executed a double steal, Nick Castellanos lined out to end the frame.
Alec Burleson and Pedro Pages hit singles opening the second inning for the Cardinals, but Nola retired the next three batters.
Lars Nootbaar walked leading off in the third inning for the Cardinals. He stole second base and took third on catcher Rafael Marchan’s throwing error before Nola retired the next three batters to leave Nootbaar there.
Philadelphia’s Brandon Marsh drew a one-out walk in the fifth inning, took second on Pallante’s errant pickoff throw, then moved up again on a groundout. But Pallante struck out Bryson Stott to keep the game scoreless.
The Cardinals took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the inning. Thomas Saggese hit a leadoff single and scored on Pozo’s RBI double.
Nootbaar followed with a single, sending Pozo to third, and took second on a wild pitch. After striking out two batters, Nola walked Nolan Arenado and Burleson to force in a run before retiring Pages on a flyout.
Trea Turner hit a leadoff single for the Phillies in the ninth inning and advanced to third on two groundouts. Castellanos flied out to end the game.
–Field Level Media
