Phillies Outduel Cardinals, Wainwright in Rainy 3-Game Series Opener

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

Fresh off their 4-3 road trip against two National League Central opponents, the Philadelphia Phillies (32-22) returned home to open a rainy three-game set against another — the St. Louis Cardinals (26-27) — Tuesday evening at Citizens Bank Park.

The recently recalled Nick Pivetta (W, 3-1, 7.71 ERA) would outduel 14-year veteran Adam Wainwright (L, 4-5, 4.94 ERA), as the Phillies edged the Cardinals, 4-3 — behind two-RBI extra-base hits via Bryce Harper (double) and Cesar Hernandez (home run). Hector Neris notched his 10th save in as many opportunities with a 1-2-3 ninth on two strikeouts.

With the win — the Phillies' seventh one-run victory — the club returned to its season-high 10 games over .500. After collecting just one hit on Sunday, the Phillies outhit the Cardinals, 8-4, going 2-for-4 with runners in scoring position. The Phillies have now won eight of their last 11 games.

Pivetta's start to the game — his first since April 16 while posting an 8.35 ERA over his first four starts — was anything but what the right-hander had hoped. Against his second and fourth batters faced in the first, Pivetta respectively allowed a solo and two-run home run to Paul Goldschmidt and Marcell Ozuna, while hitting Paul DeJong by a pitch in between.

Things would turn around for the Phillies right-hander, however, as he would go on to retire each of his next 10 batters faced — four via strikeout. Pivetta finished the start by allowing the three runs on three hits, two walks and six strikeouts spanning five innings, 106 pitches and 63 strikes; he induced nine swinging strikes and tossed first-pitch strikes to 13 of his 21 batters faced. 

Down 3-0 with one out in the third, Pivetta helped his own cause by singling to center — his first hit of the season and the eighth of his career. Andrew McCutchen followed with a single to left, and both runners advanced to scoring position after a Wainwright wild pitch. Jean Segura uncharacteristically struck out, but Harper made sure the inning would not end without a run, lacing a two-RBI double on a 3-1 count to right. An inning later, the Phillies produced two more runs. J.T. Realmuto's single preceded Hernandez's go-ahead, two-run blast, which ricocheted off the second-deck facade in right field. As it turned out, the home run produced the last runs of the contest.

The Phillies nearly added a run for the third straight inning in the fifth. Harper laced his second double of the game, with two outs, and Rhys Hoskins followed with a single to center. Harper, was tagged out at home trying to score on the play, however, as Cardinals CF Harrison Bader made an excellent throw to perennial All-Star catcher Yadier Molina.

Wainwright's outing ended after six innings; despite striking out 10 and walking none through six innings and 92 pitches, his four earned runs allowed ultimately resulted in his third straight losing decision on the road dating back to May 5. The three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove Award winner has now allowed 12 runs (all earned) over his last 15 innings.

Phillies relievers Edgar Garcia (1 2/3 innings), Seranthony Dominguez (1 1/3 innings) and Neris (1 inning) combined for three scoreless innings en route to the club's 32nd win of the season. They combined to allow just one hit and no walks while striking out five batters, retiring 12 of the 13 batters they faced.

Game Notes:

• Prior to the game, the Phillies recalled Pivetta and optioned RHP Enyel De Los Santos to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. While in the minors, Pivetta posted a 3.41 ERA and a 50-20 strikeout-to-walk ratio spanning 37 innings.
• The Phillies also recalled OF Nick Williams as the corresponding move to OF Odubel Herrera being placed on administrative leave, with his first court date scheduled for June 17 regarding his domestic violence arrest.
• Hernandez leads the Phillies in hits with 59; 30 of those hits (50.8%) have come during the month of May.
• Harper doubled twice, both against Wainwright. Sixteen of his 46 hits (34.8%) this season have been doubles. Prior to Harper's third inning two-run double, he had struck out in eight of his last 10 at-bats.
• Neris is averaging 12.93 strikeouts per nine innings pitched.
• Entering the game, the Phillies hit .220 with RISP over their last 20 games, the third-worst in MLB. Yet, the club went 12-8, averaging 4.6 runs per game despite a sixth-fewest 20 home runs over the stretch, notes NBC Sports Philadelphia's Corey Seidman.

What's Next:

• Wednesday, May 29, 2019: vs. St. Louis Cardinals, 7:05 p.m.
  • Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pa.
  • LHP Genesis Cabrera (MLB debut) vs. RHP Aaron Nola (5-0, 4.53 ERA)
  • TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP