Shane Victorino helped the Philadelphia Phillies make a statement.
Victorino and Freddy Galvis each drove in three runs, including Galvis’ go-ahead single in the sixth inning, and the Philadelphia Philles beat the St. Louis Cardinals 10-9 on Thursday night.
“We had the early lead, lost the lead early. This was a test of character,” Victorino said. “What kind of team really are we? I think we can be a great team. It’s just a matter of us going out there and doing it.”
Placido Polanco, Carlos Ruiz and Ty Wigginton added three hits apiece for Philadelphia, which had a season-high 18.
Jonathan Papelbon pitched the ninth for his 13th straight save.
“That was a really good game for us,” Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said. “The hits that we got, that was definitely a confidence booster for us. We’ll be OK.”
With two outs and two on against Fernando Salas (0-3), Galvis drove in Victorino with a single and pinch-hitter Mike Fontenot singled to score Wigginton and make it 9-7.
St. Louis narrowed the margin to 9-8 with a two-out homer by David Freese. His 10th homer of the season went 463 feet and is the second longest homer in the stadium’s seven-year history.
“I’d say they did a great job of fighting and staying with it, not quitting,” St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. “That’s something we’ve seen pretty consistently with this team. You just hate to have to fight that much.”
Wigginton homered in the eighth to add an insurance run that proved valuable when Skip Schumaker hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom half of the inning.
A three-run fifth by St. Louis chased Philadelphia starter Joe Blanton and tied it at 7. Matt Holliday led off the fifth with his 10th homer. Raul Valdes (1-0) got two outs to end the inning.
Carlos Beltran, who had three hits, doubled but was thrown out at third on a ball hit in the hole by Freese. Two pitches later, Yadier Molina, who had four hits, crushed the ball out to deep center.
Blanton, who gave up four homers in his last start, gave up two in 4 1/3 innings. He allowed 10 hits.
The Phillies led 6-0 after two innings against St. Louis starter Jake Westbrook.
Victorino hit into a fielder’s choice to bring home a run, Wigginton singled up the middle to score Hunter Pence and Galvis hit a two-run single to make it 4-0.
“I try to be more relaxed up there,” Galvis said. “I try to protect the whole home plate. It was the best game I’ve ever played, you know.”
Victorino hit a two-out, two-run double in the second inning.
St. Louis fought back with a four-run third inning against Blanton. Westbrook led off with a single and scored on a groundout. Beltran hit an RBI single and Freese then doubled to drive in Beltran and later scored on a single by Molina.
It was Westbrook’s shortest outing of the season. He allowed eight hits and three walks.
— Associated Press —