Joe Blanton hadn’t seen major league hitting yet this season. It was going to be an interesting night when he was going to go up against Albert Pujols and the steady offense of the St. Louis Cardinals. Blanton shook off any rust and deterred any doubters as he impressed in the Phillies 6-3 loss Monday night.
Blanton lasted 6.2 innings, allowing four runs on 10 hits, a walk, and four strike outs. He looked great, finding his spots and making the Cardinals batters look foolish. Nelson Figueroa came in the fifth and allowed a big three-run double to David Freese that Blanton got credited for two runs.
The Cardinals got their big inning in the seventh when they chased Blanton. Figueroa’s inability to preserve the inning was the cause of the meltdown. Blanton got credited for three of the five runs in the inning that broke a 1-1 tie.
Jayson Werth had a nice game with a double and a homer. Juan Castro hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth that initially tied the game at one. Chase Utley homered in the ninth but it was too late.
Doubles: Werth (13). HR: Werth (4), Utley (8).
WP: Garcia (3-1). LP: Blanton (0-1). S: Franklin ()
TTB 