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Fielding miscues allow Cardinals to top Phillies

Jun 16, 2008 - 12:37 AM By Jim Walsh PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- The St. Louis Cardinals took advantage of several crucial miscues to reverse their fortunes against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Errors by Chase Utley and Tom Gordon in the 10th inning allowed the Cardinals to score an unearned run and defeat the Phillies, 7-6, on Sunday.

The Phillies had captured four straight series against St. Louis, winning nine of the last 12 contests between the teams. After a 20-2 shellacking by the Philadelphia on Friday, the Cardinals bounced back with two one-run victories to take the weekend series.

"It speaks to the desire to win and the desire to be a good club," Cardinals third baseman Troy Glaus said. "We're not going to wow you with the big numbers but we're showing how to play winning baseball."

With two outs in the 10th, Rick Ankiel hit a grounder between first and second which Utley fielded on the right field grass but threw low to Gordon covering first base. Glaus followed with a single to left, moving Ankiel to second.

Chris Duncan then hit a similar grounder to the right side to Utley, who again threw to Gordon (5-4) covering, but the reliever again missed the throw, allowing Ankiel to score the winning run.

"They were pretty routine plays, I made two bad throws," said Utley, taking the blame for both errors. "Unfortunately it cost us the game. I've made plays a lot of times in the past, but I didn't get it done today."

"That last play I just didn't see the ball," Gordon said. "I couldn't find it, couldn't locate it. I was hoping it would hit me. I have no excuse."

Anthony Reyes(2-1) pitched a scoreless 10th to secure the victory and give St. Louis its 15th series win of the season.

"We caught a break," St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said. "We've lost games where the baseball gods kicked us, but today they kicked the Phillies."

The Cardinals carried a 6-4 lead into the eighth until the bullpen imploded with two men out.

After getting the first two batters, Chris Perez yielded a triple to Jimmy Rollins followed by a walk to Jayson Werth. Randy Flores relieved Perez and gave up consecutive walks to Utley and Ryan Howard to plate Rollins.

Russ Springer was summoned to put out the fire but walked Pat Burrell to tie the score at 6-6.

Phillies starter Brett Myers continued to suffer through his rough season, allowing six runs with eight hits over six innings. The seven-year veteran, who has only one victory since April 17, struck out three with no walks.

"I've got to try to stay away from the innings with the crooked numbers," Myers said. "Home runs are killing me, especially with guys on base."

"It's tough on me, too, going out there and giving up five, six runs and expecting these guys to bail me out every time. It's not going to happen."

Mitchell Boggs lasted only 4 1/3 innings in his second major league start. The 24-year-old righthander, who allowed two runs and four hits in five innings in defeating Cincinnati last Tuesday, surrendered four runs and six hits with two walks in this one.

"I got a lead early and it's my job to at least get to the sixth," Boggs said. "I'm frustrated with myself. I didn't do that. I felt like I did some positive things and I did some negative things so I have to learn from them."

St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina was carted off the field on a stretcher in the ninth inning after a collision at home with the Phillies' Eric Bruntlett. The 25-year-old never lost consciousness as he laid at the plate for eight minutes before being taken to a local hospital to evaluate back and neck pain.

All tests came back negative and Molina was diagnosed with a mild concussion.

Molina's injury comes in the midst of a rash of injuries for the Cardinals. Ace Adam Wainwright suffered a sprained index finger and slugger Albert Pujols was sidelined with a strained calf, landing both players on the disabled list in the past week.