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Peralta, Cards dominate Phils

Jun 20, 2015 - 5:06 AM Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - Jhonny Peralta drove in three runs as the St. Louis Cardinals pounded the Philadelphia Phillies, 12-4, to open a three-game set.

Yadier Molina and Kolten Wong each clubbed two-run home runs while Randal Grichuk was 3-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored for the Cardinals, who have won six of their last eight.

"We catch some heat sometimes when you can't put up the big offensive numbers," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "With a lineup like this it's going to happen. You're not going to be able to throw a 12 up every night, but it's in there."

Tyler Lyons (2-0) won his second straight start as he allowed three runs on seven hits in five innings.

Ryan Howard hit a three-run home run and Cesar Hernandez drove in a run for the Phillies, who had snapped a nine-game losing streak with a victory on Thursday.

Phillippe Aumont's (0-1) first career start was a rough one as he was pounded for six runs on five hits and seven walks in just four innings on the mound. He was making the start in place of an injured Cole Hamels, who was scratched due to a mild right hamstring strain.

"You make mistakes and they live off those mistakes," Aumont said.

The Cardinals jumped on Aumont in the second inning as Jason Heyward led off with a double and Molina followed with his second homer of the season. The next two batters recorded outs, but Lyons kept the inning alive with a single and Wong followed with his eighth homer of the season for a 4-0 lead.

In the fourth, a pair of walks were later followed by Peralta's two-run double to make it a 6-0 game.

Justin DeFratus came on to pitch for the Phils in the fifth, and fared no better. The first three batters reached base and Lyons singled home a run before Wong struck out. Matt Carpenter then singled in another run, Peralta brought one in with a sac fly and Mark Reynolds doubled off the top of the wall in right-center to score two more for an 11-0 lead.

The Phils were able to cut a bit into their deficit in the home fifth on Howard's 13th of the season, a three-run blast to right, but Grichuk answered with a solo shot of his own in the sixth to make it a 12-3 game.

Hernandez drove in a run on a groundout in the eighth to account for the final score.

Game Notes

The Cardinals recalled infielder Greg Garcia and first baseman Xavier Scruggs from Triple-A Memphis and optioned catcher Ed Easley and pitcher Mitch Harris to Memphis on Friday ... St. Louis had been held to four or fewer runs in its previous 12 games ... St. Louis has won four of the five games with Philly this season ... Philadelphia optioned pitcher Hector Neris to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday and selected the contract of Aumont from Lehigh Valley.