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Lohse sharp as Cardinals edge Phillies

Jun 14, 2008 - 11:33 PM By Thad Kemlage PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- Kyle Lohse let the Philadelphia Phillies know there would not be a repeat performance.

Lohse pitched eight outstanding innings Saturday, lifting the St. Louis Cardinals to a 3-2 victory over the Phillies.

Following a night in which the Cardinals' pitching staff was battered for 20 runs and 21 hits, Lohse (8-2) had his longest outing of the season, giving up only two runs and four hits.

"Obviously we needed some innings out of me," Lohse said after the Phillies wore out six Cardinals pitchers on Friday. "I was able to give the team what they needed and stayed strong for eight."

Ryan Franklin preserved Lohse's team-leading eighth win with a 1-2-3 ninth for his ninth save of the season.

Lohse now has won five straight starts for the first time in his career and hasn't lost since May 9 against the Colorado Rockies.

"The thing about Kyle is he's been real aggressive with different pitches," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "He goes to both sides of the plate and has four or five pitches that he can locate."

Adam Kennedy provided the offense early for the Cardinals. Kennedy hit his first homer of the season with a runner aboard in the first inning off Phillies start Adam Eaton to give St. Louis an early 2-0 lead.

"It was great to get on the board early after last night's debacle," Kennedy said. "Then, we played great defense for Kyle."

Ryan Ludwick added the third and decisive run for the Cardinals with a single in the third inning to score Skip Schumaker. Batting No. 3 since the injury to All-Star Albert Pujols, Ludwick has a team-leading 53 RBI.

"I got a slider away and was fortunate enough to put it into left center," Ludwick said. "I'm glad we have the chance to win the series Sunday after (Friday's) game."

Pat Burrell picked up the only two RBI for the Phillies with his 18th homer of the season in the fourth. Burrell has 14 home runs and 46 RBI in 47 games in his career against the Cardinals.

Eaton (2-4, 4.57 ERA) took the loss, yielding three runs and nine hits over 6 2/3 innings.

"Adam pitched good enough to get us the win, but he ran into a guy pitching good, too," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.

Although Eaton was 2-0 in his last three starts entering Saturday, he fell to 1-5 with a 6.37 ERA in eight career starts against St. Louis.

Phillies second baseman Chase Utley went 0-for-4, snapping his 21-game hitting streak.