|
 Morgan (1-0), who was notified late in the week that he would be
moving up from triple-A Lehigh Valley to replace right-handed
pitcher Seth Rosin, exited the game to raucous applause after
throwing 5 2/3 innings, allowing just one run on six hits and
striking out six batters on 78 pitches, 54 of which were strikes.
He became the first Phillies starter to earn a win since May 23, a
franchise-record span of 25 starts without a victory for the
rotation.
The Phillies' offense made it easy for him, scoring more runs than
it had in any game this season.
After Morgan served up two scoreless innings to start his
major-league career, the Phillies (24-47) hit the scoreboard first
in the bottom of the second inning in a big way, scoring three runs
on Cardinals starter Michael Wacha (9-3, 2.85 ERA).
The big blow was a two-run, bases-loaded single by second baseman
Cesar Hernandez.
Morgan's lone blemish on his impressive debut came in the top of the
fourth, when Cardinals shortstop Jhonny Peralta homered off the
rookie for his 11th home run of the year.
Things got worse for the Cardinals (45-24) in the bottom of the
fifth, as they saw their 3-1 deficit increase to 5-1 by the inning's
end thanks to RBI base hits by Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco
and first baseman Ryan Howard.
Wacha, who had made it into the seventh inning in five of his last
six starts, picked up his third loss of the season, tossing 81
pitches (57 strikes) through five innings of work while allowing
five earned runs on eight hits, one walk and seven strikeouts.
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The Phillies tacked on some insurance runs in the bottom of the
sixth and seventh by way of an RBI single by outfielder Ben Revere
and a three-run home run from infielder Andres Blanco.
Cardinals right fielder Jason Heyward hit a home run in the top of
the ninth off Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon for the final
margin.
NOTES: The Phillies optioned RHP Seth Rosin to Triple-A Lehigh
Valley and called up LHP Adam Morgan from the same club. Morgan made
his major league debut Sunday. ... Before Sunday's victory, the
Phillies were just 4-14 (.222) in June, the lowest win total in the
majors this month. ... Entering Sunday, Cardinals SS Jhonny Peralta
ranked seventh in the National League in batting (.312) and his 10
home runs were tied for the major league lead among shortstops going
into Sunday. ... Cardinals starting pitchers have 32 wins, second in
the majors with 44 quality starts. The starters held a collective
2.61 ERA, tops in the majors, before Sunday.
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