The Cardinals turned a potential grind into a statement win Wednesday, exploding for four two-out runs in the fifth to crush the Phillies 7-1 and take the series.
It was the kind of inning that makes you sit up. César Prieto, ice-cold at 0-for-27, finally broke through with a single to right for his first hit of the year. Two outs later the floodgates opened. JJ Wetherholt singled, Iván Herrera punched a 3-2 fastball into play to score Prieto, Alec Burleson ripped a two-run double the other way, and Jordan Walker doubled him home. Four straight knocks against Zack Wheeler with two gone. That's how you flip a game.
Burleson was the spark all series, going 5-for-10 with a pair of doubles and five RBI. He added an RBI single in the seventh for good measure. Kyle Leahy kept things quiet on the mound, working five innings, one run, six strikeouts and zero walks. The Cards scratched an early run on an error and Nathan Church's double, while the Phillies answered with back-to-back doubles from Bryce Harper and Luis Arraez.
Just like that, St. Louis sits 61-60, a game over .500, and they've won three straight series for the first time this season. Both teams are still in the mix for that last NL wild-card spot. The Phillies, now 64-58, head to Dyersville for the Field of Dreams game Thursday against the Twins.
This wasn't luck. It was staying alive with two outs, putting the ball in play, and making a top starter pay. Cardinals fans have to love seeing that kind of at-bat quality late in the year. Burleson's been a rock, and the lineup showed it can string together hits when it counts. For a club that's been hovering around .500, taking two of three from a solid Phillies team and climbing over the break-even mark feels like a turning point. Wheeler usually shuts things down, but those consecutive two-out hits exposed a crack. You could feel the shift when Prieto's single dropped in. The dugout woke up. Then it was hit after hit, Wheeler left standing there as the scoreboard flipped. Now the question is whether St. Louis can keep this going as they head to Wrigley. The wild-card picture is tight, and every series like this matters. Phillies will try to bounce back in Iowa, but this loss stings after dropping the rubber game. Look at the details: Prieto ending that slump set the table, then the heart of the order delivered. Herrera going the other way on a full count, Burleson driving the ball to right, Walker keeping the line moving. That's professional hitting. Leahy throwing strikes, no free passes, letting his defense work. The Phillies managed just one run off him. In a race this close, a 7-1 win with that kind of offensive outburst can shift momentum. Fans will be talking about whether this is the stretch run starting for St. Louis or just a good series. Either way, beating Wheeler like that in a must-have game for positioning is big.