The Cardinals used a five-run rally in the third inning to beat the Phillies 8-4 on Wednesday night. With the score tied at 0-0, Albert Pujols blasted his tenth home run of the season to make it 2-0. Later in the inning, catcher Yadier Molina went deep for the first time this year with a three-run blast to give St. Louis a 5-0 advantage.
St. Louis led 8-0 before the Phillies got on board with Bobby Abreu’s 12th homer and his ninth in ten games. The three-run homer cut St. Louis’ lead to five. Endy Chavez scored on a double play in the eighth inning to make it 8-4.
Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen got himself into a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth after sandwiching walks to Jason Michaels and Chavez around a single off the bat of Jimmy Rollins. With Abreu at the plate, Isringhausen got him to strike out on four pitches to end the game.
Starting pitcher Chris Carpenter lasted six innings and was charged with three runs off five hits and four walks. He struck out seven batters to earn his sixth win of the season.
