It can run on water: Phillies 2, Cardinals 1

Phils steal one late behind a dominant staff outing

The Philadelphia Phillies (25-17) took a wet first game of the doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals (23-20) by a score of 2-1 on Wednesday afternoon.

Jesus Luzardo pitched another gem with seven innings of one-run ball, though it was the only run of the game at the time of his departure. Luzardo has now allowed one run or fewer for the fifth time this season and has allowed two or fewer runs in eight out of nine starts.

Despite three hits and four walks against Cardinals’ starter, Erick Fedde, the lineup failed to break through, leaving seven runners on base.

Lefthander, Steven Matz, came on in relief of Fedde in the bottom of the seventh. Alec Bohm led off with a ground out before Rob Thomson pinch-hit for Brandon Marsh with Weston Wilson, who worked a full count before a single to center.

After a baserunning gaffe in the third inning where he was doubled off first on a fly ball, the fans were all too ready to make Rafael Marchan the scapegoat when it appeared as if he had done it again by trying to stretch a single into a double on the throw to third. But a savvy challenge by Thomson overturned the call to preserve the runners in scoring position with one out.

Bryson Stott cashed in on the good fortune with an infield single to score Wilson and a struggling Bryce Harper brought home the go-ahead run with a bloop fly into no-man’s-land behind second base.

Jose Alvarado started the eighth inning but gave up a single to Lars Nootbaar and a walk to Masyn Winn, who moved over into scoring position on a groundout by Brendan Donovan. It was somewhat surprising to see Thomson remove Alvarado in favor of Orion Kerkering with righties Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras due up. After getting behind 2-0, Kerkering got Arenado to pop out to first base foul territory and got a called strike three after a full count to Contreras to end the inning.

Jordan Romano got the save opportunity in the ninth and struck out the side in order with three putaway swinging strikes.

Kyle Schwarber’s on base streak ended at 47 games after an 0-4 day at the plate.

In addition to calling a solid game behind the dish, Marchan went 2-2 with a walk.

Harper also had a double, his ninth of the year, to go along with his game-winning RBI single.

Game two of the doubleheader starts in a couple of hours as Aaron Nola faces off against Sonny Gray.