Westbrook pitches 7 solid innings, has 2nd career steal in Cardinals' 11-3 win over Phillies

By R.B. FALLSTROM, AP Sports Writer

July 25, 2013 at 3:45AM

ST. LOUIS — Jake Westbrook pitched seven solid innings and contributed offensively with his second career steal, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to an 11-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night.

Matt Adams had two hits and three RBIs and Shane Robinson's three-run triple in the fifth was his third hit of the game for the Cardinals, who are 4-1 since the All-Star break and lead the majors with a 61-37 record. They scored in four straight innings, totaling nine runs on 12 of their 16 hits from the second through fifth.

Allen Craig had two hits and a walk to give him 16 hits during a nine-game hitting streak. He's second in the league in hitting at .337 behind teammate Yadier Molina, who had three hits and an RBI and is batting .339.

John Mayberry had two hits and an RBI for the Phillies, who were without top run producer Domonic Brown and have lost four in a row. Brown is being evaluated for concussion-like symptoms and the team expects to know Thursday whether he'll be placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list. Right fielder Delmon Young threw out a runner at the plate in the second to thwart a sacrifice fly bid.

Westbrook (7-4) had his first career three-hit game and helped knock out John Lannan (2-4) when he drew a two-out walk in the fourth, stole second and scored on Carpenter's single for a 4-0 lead.

Westbrook is 2 for 2 in his career on steals, getting his first last season. He has scored four runs this year, matching his total from the last two seasons combined.

After retiring the side in order in the first, Lannan surrendered eight hits and two walks the next three innings. The biggest hit was Adams' two-run single on an 0-2 count with the bases loaded in the second.

Lannan worked eight innings and allowed a run each of his two previous starts. He was pitching on 10 days' rest.

The Phillies were held to one hit before bunching three singles the first four at-bats of the fifth, with Carlos Ruiz getting the RBI, but pinch hitter John McDonald grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Robinson's bases-clearing triple capped a five-run fifth against rookie J.C. Ramirez that broke the game open. Robinson's sinking liner bounced in front of and then over diving center fielder Mayberry and the Cardinals also had three doubles in the inning with Adams and David Freese getting RBIs.

Brock Peterson got his first career hit on an RBI single in two-run eighth for St. Louis.

NOTES: Lance Lynn (11-5, 4.13) has lost consecutive starts while giving up 10 runs on 17 hits in 9 1-3 innings entering the finale against Kyle Kendrick (9-6, 3.94). Kendrick is 5-1 with a 2.72 career ERA against St. Louis. ... The Cardinals scored on a pair of softly-hit balls in the third, Carpenter's leadoff infield hit and Molina's two-out bloop RBI single. ... A sellout crowd of 44,317 was the 18th sellout and put the Cardinals over 2 million attendance for the 18th straight season. ... Tony Cruz had an infield hit in the eighth in his first appearance since the break for St. Louis.

about the writer

about the writer

R.B. FALLSTROM, AP Sports Writer

More from Twins

card image

The Chicago Cubs have added Matthew Boyd to their rotation in their first big offseason move, agreeing to a $29 million, two-year contract with the veteran left-hander, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.

card image