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O’Neill scores on game-ending wild pitch as Cards top Phils

ST. LOUIS (AP) – Tyler O’Neill scored on David Hale’s game-ending wild pitch in the 10th inning, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-3 Thursday to split their four-game series.

O’Neil, the automatic runner, started on second and advanced on Andrew Knizner’s groundout. Hale (0-1) bounced a past curveball catcher J.T. Realmuto, getting the loss in his first decision since the Phillies acquired him from the New York Yankees last August.

“It was a good, hard-fought series that we split,” Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said. “It showed a lot for our guys too, you know, to fight, scratch, and claw to win the series’ last game.”

Realmuto took the blame for the wild pitch.

“It’s my job to keep the ball in front, and I let the team down,” he said. “I should’ve kept it in front, one way or another. I have to keep the runner on third.”

Alex Reyes (1-0) pitched two perfect innings.

Matt Carpenter put the Cardinals ahead in the sixth with a three-run homer off Aaron Nola, a ball that bounced out of the outstretched glove of Roman Quinn at the top of the right-field wall. It was the fourth pinch-hit homer for Carpenter, the first since May 30, 2019, also against Philadelphia.

“Pinch-hitting is not conducive for success; I mean it’s really – it’s just a hard thing to do,” Carpenter said. “So, that has its challenges, but you got to be ready to go out there when your name is called, and I’m doing my best in that role.”

game-ending

Knizner started the rally with a one-out single. He advanced on an error by center fielder Odúbel Herrera, becoming the first Cardinal to reach scoring position this season against Nola. She didn’t allow a runner past first base in a two-hit shutout on April 18.

Edmundo Sosa was intentionally walked, and Carpenter hit for starter Kwang Hyun Kim.

“This game is on me,” Phillies manager Joe Girardi said. “I chose to walk Sosa to get to Carpenter.” Andrew McCutcheon hit an RBI double in the seventh off Andrew Miller and scored on Alec Bohm’s single off Giovanny Gallegos. Kim allowed one run and seven hits in five innings; in the 11th straight game, a Cardinals starter went at least five innings with three earned runs or fewer. “I had some trouble going on, but I just allowed the one run, and in the fifth inning, Carpenter’s home run gave a chance for the team to win,” Kim said through an interpreter. “At the end of the day, winning is the most important thing overall.”

Nola gave up three runs and four hits in six innings.
ANOTHER EJECTION

Shildt was ejected in the bottom of the ninth by plate umpire Brennan Miller after Nolan Arenado hit a pitch from Héctor Neris with nobody on and two outs. After Bryce Harper and Didi Gregorius were hit on consecutive pitches by Genesis Cabrera, Girardi was ejected from Wednesday’s game.

Shildt said he was ejected for arguing balls and strikes, not for the hit-by pitch.

“I think everyone handled this situation fairly appropriately the entire last couple of days,” Shildt said. “It could have gotten hideous.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Phillies: Harper was not in the lineup after leaving Wednesday’s game in the sixth inning after being hit in the face by a 97 mph fastball from Cabrera. Girardi said he and Gregorius, also on the bench, will be evaluated by doctors when they return home.

Shildt said Harper sent a note to Cabrera saying he knew it was unintentional.

“Whoever’s a fan of Bryce Harper, whoever has children that are fans of Bryce Harper, support that guy because what he sent over in a message today was completely a class act,” Shildt said.

Cardinals: recalled RHP Seth Elledge and optioned RHP Johan Oviedo to the alternate training site.

UP NEXT

Phillies: RHP Chase Anderson (0-3, 6.48 ERA) starts a homestand opener against the New York Mets and RHP Marcus Stroman (3-1, 2.25 ERA). Anderson is 0-1 with a 4.00 ERA in two starts this season against the Mets. Cardinals: RHP John Gant (1-2, 2.25 ERA) starts Friday at Pittsburgh, and RHP J.T. Brubaker (2-1, 2.01 ERA). Gant won his first decision of the season in his last start, pitching six scoreless innings in a 2-0 win over Cincinnati on April 24.

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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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Molly Aronson

I'm an award-winning blogger who enjoys all things creative but is especially passionate about lifestyle design. I blog over at mehlogy.com I love that I get to share my passion for healthy living, fashion, fitness, and travel with readers from all over the world.

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