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Williams, Phillies shut down Cardinals

Aug 25, 2014 - 2:06 AM Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - Jerome Williams tossed eight effective innings of one-run ball to help the Philadelphia Phillies take the finale of a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals with a 7-1 win on Sunday.

Williams (2-0), who hasn't gone at least eight innings in a start since May 21, 2013, scattered five hits and walked three while striking out five in the win.

"I've been in the American League for a long time, and coming over to the National League I feel I can contribute in different ways," Williams said. "I'm just happy that I'm doing the job that I've been doing."

After having a rough time with Texas and Houston earlier this season, Williams has allowed just four runs in 20 1/3 innings over three starts with Philadelphia.

Williams helped his own cause offensively with an RBI, Ben Revere went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored and Jimmy Rollins homered for the Phillies, who have won four of their last six.

Justin Masterson (2-2) took the loss after surrendering five runs on six hits and two walks over three innings.

"Our energy has been good all year, that hasn't an issue for us," said Cardinals manager Mike Matheny. "Guys come prepared every day."

Revere walked for the first time since July 5, a span of 40 games and 171 plate appearances, to begin the home first and Chase Utley knocked him in two batters later with a single to center.

The Phillies pushed a pair of runs across in the second thanks to a textbook safety squeeze by Williams. Domonic Brown led off with a single and Cody Asche knocked a base hit two batters later to put runners at the corners. Williams watched the first pitch for a ball, then laid a bunt down the first-base line that allowed Brown to easily trot home for a 2-0 lead. Revere followed with a single to left that chased Asche home.

Philadelphia continued to add to its lead in the third with another two-run inning. Ryan Howard worked a one-out walk preceding Grady Sizemore's double to right center. After a strikeout by Brown, Howard crossed home on a wild pitch from Masterson and Wil Nieves drove Sizemore in with a check-swing single to right.

Oscar Taveras got a run back for St. Louis in the fourth with an RBI single to right that scored Jhonny Peralta.

The Cardinals then had their first two batters of the sixth reach base, however, Williams induced a flyout of Jon Jay before getting Taveras to line into an inning-ending double play.

Rollins stroked a two-run homer in the seventh to increase the cushion to 7-1.

Game Notes

Philadelphia went 3-for-6 with runners in scoring position, while St. Louis went 1-for-11 in those instances and stranded eight men on base ... Revere stole his 38th base of the season ... Asche committed his 14th error of the season ... Peralta and Taveras each had two hits. The Cardinals had six as a team.