Cardinals 6 - 5 Phillies
Final/12
  for this game

Phils target another series win

Aug 23, 2014 - 1:25 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - It's been nearly four months since the Philadelphia Phillies have won consecutive series. Now playing the role of spoiler against teams fighting for playoff spots, the NL East basement dwellers have an opportunity to send the St. Louis Cardinals to another loss tonight at Citizens Bank Park.

Philadelphia is looking to win back-to-back series for the first time since April 21-24 (3-1 at LOS) and April 25-27 (2-1 at ARI).

The Cardinals enter the day 1 1/2 games behind Milwaukee for the lead in the NL Central. They have not won a series at Citzens Bank Park since sweeping a three-game set in April of 2006.

Shelby Miller, tonight's pitcher for the Cardinals, has just one victory since throwing a three-hit shutout at Toronto on June 7. That triumph came July 31 at San Diego. Miller has just one win over his last 12 appearances (1-4), 11 of which have been starts. He's coming off a no-decision versus the Padres a week ago when he had a career-high six walks.

Miller is 1-1 with a 2.84 ERA in two previous starts against the Phillies.

David Buchanan counters for the hosts and will try to avoid a third straight defeat. The 25-year-old righty yielded nine hits and three runs -- two earned -- over 6 2/3 innings of a 5-2 loss at San Francisco on Sunday.

In his only other career appearance against the Cardinals, on June 19 at Busch Stadium, Buchanan limited the Cardinals to four hits and a run in 7 2/3 innings, in a game he opposed Miller.

Last night, Ben Revere collected three hits with two runs scored, Ryan Howard had two RBI and the Phillies rallied for a 5-4 win in the opener of this three-game set.

Kyle Kendrick (6-11) settled down after giving up three first-inning runs to pitch 6 1/3 frames for Philadelphia, which has won three of its last four games.

Phillies pitchers retired the Cardinals in order in each of the final five innings. Jonathan Papelbon tossed the ninth for his 31st save.

Bumped up to make the start for St. Louis, Adam Wainwright (15-8) surrendered five runs -- four earned -- on six hits, walked three and struck out only two in six innings.

The Cardinals had their winning streak stopped at four games.






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