ST. LOUIS _ Jack Flaherty had the best start of his young big-league career, allowing just two hits in seven-plus innings while striking out 13, the most by a Cardinal this season, as the Cardinals beat the Phillies, 5-1, on Sunday at Busch Stadium to get a split of their four-game series.
With the Cardinals bullpen low on bodies, Mike Matheny sent Flaherty out to start the eighth inning, even though he had thrown 102 pitches. He allowed a leadoff single in the eighth, then struck out two before coming out having thrown 120 pitches.
Flaherty allowed just one hit in his first seven innings, a home run by Rhys Hopkins in the fourth. He also allowed his only walk of the game in that inning. In the other six of his eight innings, he retired the side in order. In addition to getting his first big-league win, Flaherty also got his first big-league hit, a single to right in the third inning.
Flaherty got a standing ovation when he came out with two outs in the eighth.
Tyler O'Neill, starting in left field in place of the slumping Marcell Ozuna, went three for four, with his second home run in as many games. He also scored the tying run in fourth. That run came in on a throwing error by Phillies first baseman Carlos Santana. Kolten Wong hit a ground ball to Cesar Hernandez at second, and Dexter Fowler, on first, hit the brakes to avoid the tag. Hernandez threw to first for the out and Santana tried to get Fowler at second, but his throw went into left field and O'Neill scored, with Fowler taking third. He came into a score and gave the Cardinals the lead on a single by Greg Garcia, who was playing shortstop on Sunday.
O'Neill homered to start the sixth and the Cardinals added another run on a single by Fowler, a steal of second, a sacrifice bunt by Wong and a sacrifice fly by Garcia.
Matt Carpenter went 3 for 4, with two doubles.
Jordan Hicks came on in relief of Flaherty and went 1 1/3 innings in a non-save situation. He had two pitches that were clocked at 105 mph on the scoreboard, which would make them the fastest pitches in the majors this season.
