Philadelphia Phillies at St. Louis Cardinals

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

O’Neil, the automatic runner, started on second and advanced on Andrew Knizner’s groundout. Hale (0-1) bounced a curveball past 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 last game of the series.”

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 in itself has its challenges, but you got to be ready to go out there and when your name is called and I’m doing my best in that role.”

Knizner started the rally with a one-out single and he advanced on an error by center fielder by Odúbel Herrera, becoming the first Cardinal to reach scoring position this season against Nola, who 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 is 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, 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 was hit by a pitch from Héctor Neris with nobody on and two outs. Girardi was ejected from Wednesday’s game after Bryce Harper and Didi Gregorius were hit on consecutive pitches by Genesis Cabrera.

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

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

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, who was 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: St Louis placed RHP Adam Wainwright (asterisk)(no reason given) and LHP Andrew Miller (toe blister on right foot) on the injured list, activated OF Harrison Bader (right elbow) from the 10-day IL and recalled RHP Kodi Whitley from the alternate training site. ... Before the game, RHP Seth Elledge was recalled from the alternate site and RHP Johan Oviedo was optioned.

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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