Phillies will try for a rare 2019 series sweep in Cardinals finale

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Gabe Kapler has the Phillies in first despite inability to sweep series

This will be the finale of a three-game series between the two clubs, as well as the final meeting between them scheduled for the 2019 regular season.

The two teams have battled the weather in the first two games, as a major wave of powerful thunderstorms has been pushing through the area. Each of those first two contests was delayed at the outset by an hour or more.

This afternoon’s game should get underway as scheduled. The chance of precipitation is low at first pitch time and throughout the game. However, between 4-6 pm another round of storms is expected to roll through the area. Hopefully the game will be concluded before those arrive. Once begun, neither of the series first two games was actually delayed at any point.

This is also the lone series at home for manager Gabe Kapler and the Phillies in the middle of a stretch in which they play 13 of 16 on the road. They are now 10-6 during what we described weeks ago as a 23-game “crucible” of a test against tough teams from outside their division.

With the team immediately leaving for a west coast road trip to Los Angeles and San Diego, this will be the home fans last chance to see the Phillies until next Friday. That means that it’s also the last time to enjoy the antics of the Phillie Phanatic at Citizens Bank Park until next weekend.

Phillies bats explode as Aaron Nola grounds the Cardinals

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Aaron Nola shuts down Cards behind offensive outburst

The Philadelphia Phillies (20-15) downed the host Saint Louis Cardinals (21-15) by an 11-1 score on Tuesday night at Busch Stadium in what was a complete reversal of the series opener between the two clubs.

After suffering a 6-0 defeat in that opener, a game in which they generated just six hits, the Phillies offense exploded. The lineup produced a dozen hits, with the heart of the order producing 10 of those, and scored in double-digits for the fifth time this season already. The 2018 Phillies scored in double-digits just nine times all season.

Meanwhile, starting pitcher Aaron Nola shut down the Cardinals lineup for most of the night. Nola allowed just three hits over six innings, striking out seven and walking one. The right-hander had a shutout going into the bottom of the 6th when pinch-hitter Matt Wieters got to him for a solo home run.

The Phillies put up a big crooked number by scoring six in the top of the 2nd inning. Odubel Herrera got things started with a double to center. He then moved to third on a passed ball by the usually reliable Cardinals veteran backstop Yadier Molina.

Cesar Hernandez then drew walk and Maikel Franco reached on a fielder’s choice that included a throwing error on Cards’ second baseman Kolten Wong and a victorious challenge by manager Gabe Kapler. Herrera scored on that play, putting the Phillies on the board first. Nola then also reached on a force play with Hernandez scoring to make it a 2-0 game.

Andrew McCutchen worked a walk to load the bases. One out later, Bryce Harper stepped to the plate. The struggling right fielder worked the count to 2-1 and then drove a slider from Cardinals starter Dakota Hudson out to right field for his first-ever grand slam in a Phillies uniform. Harper’s seventh home run of the season pushed the lead out to 6-0.

Phillies and Cardinals continue early May series between first place ball clubs

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Phillies continue tough series with Cardinals in Saint Louis

The Philadelphia Phillies (19-15) lead the National League East Division standings by 1.5 games, two in the loss column, over the Atlanta Braves with the New York Mets four back and the Washington Nationals five back in the loss column.

The Saint Louis Cardinals (21-14) lead the National League Central Division standings by a half-game and .006 percentage points over their arch-rivals, the Chicago Cubs. However, the Cubbies have one fewer loss that than the Cards, who have played three more games.

On Tuesday night the two division leaders will meet in the second game of a three-game set at Busch Stadium III in Saint Louis. The Cards took the opener by a dominating 6-0 on Monday night with the Phillies offense producing just five hits.

Prior to last night’s white-washing the Phillies offense had been rolling, scoring 26 runs over the previous four games. but this was also the 14th time in their first 34 games that the lineup has produced three or fewer runs. It has very much been an all-or-nothing group.

The Cardinals had dropped four straight games prior to Monday night. Before that little mini-losing skid they were scorching hot, with 10 wins over the prior 11 games to get back into the central race following a slow start to the season.

TUESDAY STARTING LINEUPS

PHILLIES LINEUP

1. Andrew McCutchen
2. Jean Segura
3. Bryce Harper
4. Rhys Hoskins
5. J.T. Realmuto
6. Odubel Herrera
7. Cesar Hernandez
8. Maikel Franco
9. Aaron Nola