Philadelphia, PA – Adron Chambers' first major league hit ahead run in the 11th inning, as the surging St. Louis 2, in the opener of a four-game series at Citizens Bank Park.
Rafael Furcal doubled off Michael Schwimer (1-1) to begin the 11th for St. Louis. After Corey Patterson, whose misplay in the ninth enabled the tying run to score, sacrificed the runner to second, Schwimer intentionally walked Albert Pujols before Chambers broke a 2-2 tie with the single to right field. Pujols then scored on a double by Tyler Greene.
"It was a huge moment for Adron and also Tyler, who hadn't been playing much. He gets a big hit," said Tony La Russa, who recorded his 1,400th win as Cardinals manager.
Fernando Salas pitched around a one-out single in the bottom of the inning to earn his 24th save of the season, while Kyle McClellan (12-6) picked up the win.
Pujols finished 4-for-4 with two walks as the Cardinals won for the eighth time in their last nine games. St. Louis trails the NL wild card-leading Braves by 3 1/2 games.
John Mayberry, Jr. knocked in a run for Philadelphia.
"They were the team that got it done today," said Philadelphia right fielder Hunter Pence.
Despite the loss, the Phillies' magic number to clinch their fifth consecutive NL East division title shrunk to one after Atlanta lost to the New York Mets on Friday.
St. Louis broke an eighth-inning tie when Antonio Bastardo gave up a solo home run to Yadier Molina that caromed off the left-field foul pole.
Jason Motte retired the first two batters he faced in the Phillies' ninth, but a pinch-hit double by Ryan Howard kept the game alive. Howard just beat the throw from right field by Patterson. Carlos Ruiz then hit a fly ball tight to the line that Patterson dropped, which allowed pinch-runner Michael Martinez to score.
Both teams pushed home a run in the second inning. St. Louis loaded the bases and Philadelphia starter Vance Worley walked Furcal on four pitches with two outs -- the third free pass the rookie right-hander issued in the frame -- to score David Freese.
The Phillies tied the game when Placido Polanco and Mayberry hit consecutive one-out doubles. Back-to-back infield singles by Ben Francisco and Brian Schneider loaded the bases, but St. Louis starter Jaime Garcia struck out Worley swinging before Jimmy Rollins popped out to second base.
Game Notes
Philadelphia's David Herndon got Freese to ground into double play to escape a bases-loaded jam in the seventh...Garcia scattered five hits over seven frames, while Worley gave up six hits in six innings.
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