2009 Phillies, 1928 Cardinals Split

Despite 81 years difference in these two ballclubs, they looked to be evenly matched based on the season opening four game series. Each team won two, with the Cardinals scoring 25 runs, the Phillies 24. The Cardinals batted .286 on 40 hits; the Phillies hit .285 on 41 hits. The Cardinals had the better ERA, 5.05 to 6.43, but committed two errors leading to 4 unearned runs while the Phillies runs allowed were all earned.

The first two games in Philadelphia both ended with 6-5 scores, each team winning one. The scene shifted to St. Louis and the Cards took the first game in Sportsman's Park 5-2, while the Phillies scampered home 11 times in the series finale, two more than the Cardinals to win 11-9.

That fourth game looked to be an easy win for the Phillies, as they had a 9-0 lead going into the bottom of the seventh, but the Cardinals scored 9 in the final 3 frames to make the score close.

Series Highlights:

• Chick Hafey hit a 3 run HR in the 9th that traveled 405 feet to provide the difference maker
• Ryan Howard was 3-4 in game 2 including a 3 run shot that just like Hafey's was the difference maker.
• Howard stayed hot (2-4) with 2 more RBI's and HR, but Wally Roettger (3-4) big triple paced the Red Birds offense.  Jesse Haines went the distance fanning 5 and giving up just 2 ER's for the W.
• STL scored 4 in the bottom of the 9th, but still came up short in this slugfest.  Both teams combined to score 20 runs on 26 hits.  The "Flyin' Hawaiian", Shane Victorino (2-4) knocked in 4.  Every Phightin' starter had at least 1 hit with Chooch and Pedro Ruiz topping out at 3 apiece.  Jaime Moyer threw 7.1 innings and got the win despite giving up 5 runs.  Ryan Madson got shelled in the 9th to the tune of 4 runs, but held on to win.

--submitted by Bike Mike--