By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Final: Cardinals 4, Phillies 3 ❖ Attendance: 20,627
PHILADELPHIA — Thanks to a combined five-hit, four-RBI performance from shortstop Jedd Gyorko and center fielder Randal Grichuk, the St. Louis Cardinals (65-56) were able to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies (57-66) in the series opener Friday evening at Citizens Bank Park.
Phillies closer Jeanmar Gomez was two outs away from recording his 33rd save of the season, however he allowed a game-tying two-run blast to Gyorko in the ninth. Two innings later, in the Phillies' 10th extra-innings game of the season, RHP Frank Herrmann surrendered a RBI double to Grichuk. The Phillies were not able to answer back against RHP Alex Reyes, who recorded his first career save.
Scoring got underway early for the Phillies. Following a leadoff single by center fielder Odubel Herrera, shortstop Freddy Galvis laced his 20th double of the season to deep center field for the game's first run.
The Cardinals answered back the next half-inning with a two-out solo home run to left by Grichuk.
The game would remain knotted at one until the bottom of the sixth, when Herrera and Galvis hit back-to-back home runs to right field, their 13th and 12th, respectively.
Phillies southpaw Adam Morgan was pulled after six innings of work, allowing just one run on five hits, two walks and three strikeouts. He threw 91 pitches, 52 of which were strikes, while RHP Adam Wainwright threw 100 pitches and 61 for strikes over six innings of three-run baseball.
Gomez's surrendered home run to Gyorko was his first allowed since June 2 and just the fourth overall for the season spanning 54 appearances and 56 2/3 innings. Morgan was in-line to snap his seven-game losing decision streak prior to Gomez's blown save.
Game Notes:
- The Phillies have homered in each of their last 13 games (19 total), their longest streak since they homered in 14 straight from May 27-June 9, 2013.
- Gomez's fourth blown save of the season in the ninth ended a streak of seven consecutive saves. Over 12 games and 12 innings during this stretch, the right-hander posted a 2.25 ERA with 12 hits, three runs, five walks and nine strikeouts dating back to July 19.
- The Phillies are now 6-4 over 10 extra-inning games this season, with eight of the games occurring at Citizens Bank Park (4-4).
Saturday evening, the Phillies will look to avoid their fourth straight series defeat to the Cardinals, having not won a series against them since August 22-24, 2014. Veteran RHP Jeremy Hellickson (back) will make his 25th start of the season and his first since August 10, away at Dodger Stadium. He will oppose RHP Luke Weaver, who will make his second big league start as the replacement in the rotation to injured RHP Michael Wacha (shoulder). (Time: 7:05 p.m.; TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP).
