ST. LOUIS — Andrew McCutchen returned to the lineup and drove in the go-ahead run, helping the Philadelphia Phillies beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-3 Wednesday night after Bryce Harper was hit in the face by a pitch.
Harper left the game in the sixth inning after getting hit in his left cheek on a 96.9 mph fastball from left-handed reliever Génesis Cabrera (0-1).
The All-Star slugger picked himself up and walked off the field, blood dripping from a cut near the side of his nose. Matt Joyce came in to run for Harper, who is in the third year of a $330 million, 13-year deal.
Cabrera hit the next batter, Didi Gregorius, with a 94 mph fastball. Phillies manager Joe Girardi came out of the dugout to argue with plate umpire Chris Segal and was ejected.
McCutchen followed with his RBI single.
The Phillies added their final run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Gregorius.
Brad Miller’s two-run homer to right field with two outs in the fifth tied it at 3. Phillies backup catcher Andrew Knapp had an RBI single to scored Gregorius in the second for the first Philadelphia run.
Paul Goldschmidt hit a solo homer with two outs in the third. St. Louis took a 2-1 lead in the second when Tyler O’Neill, who went 3 for 4, hit a two-run homer.
Brandon Kintzler (1-0) threw 1 2/3 innings to get the win in relief. Hector Neris pitched the ninth, picking up his fifth save.
Cardinals starter Johan Oviedo made his first start of the season and his second appearance. He pitched five innings, striking out seven and allowed three hits and three runs.
The Phillies gave Vince Velasquez his second start of the season, filling in for Matt Moore, who is recovering after being in COVID-19 protocol. He pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits, including two home runs.
LUCKY NO. 7
Oviedo, who has started the second game of three different doubleheaders in his career, became the seventh Cardinal to make a start this season. That ties St. Louis with five teams — Arizona, Atlanta, Miami, Pittsburgh and San Diego — for most in the NL.
ROSTER MOVE
The Cardinals optioned OF Scott Hurst to the alternate training site to make room for Oviedo. Hurst likely will be playing for Triple-A Memphis when the minor league season begins next week.
DAY OFF
Girardi gave 3B Alec Bohm and C J.T. Realmuto the day off. About Bohm: “He’s been scuffling, so I thought he could just use the day.” About Realmuto: “I mean, he’s has played five days in a row, so I just felt it was time to give him a day.” Realmuto pinch hit in the sixth and fouled out. Bohm delivered a pinch-hit double in the seventh, scored and stayed in the game. Bohm’s parents were in attendance.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Phillies: McCutchen was back in the lineup after being held out for the first two games of the series in St. Louis. He was moved down to fifth in the batting order after being the leadoff hitter in his previous 18 starts. “It’s been a tough start for him,” Girardi said. “We want to get him going. With the way the lineup set up, I just had to do it this way.” McCutchen entered the game hitting .154.
Cardinals: Backup C Ali Sánchez, 24, is up because Yadier Molina (foot) went on the IL. He was acquired by the Cardinals for cash considerations from the New York Mets in February. “It’s good to actually be on the team. It’s great,” said Sánchez, who came from the alternate training site.
UP NEXT
Phillies: RHP Aaron Nola (2-1, 2.84) threw a two-hit shutout in his earlier start this season against St. Louis, went seven solid innings in his last start, a 7-5 win over Colorado. He is 5-2 in his career against St. Louis.
Cardinals: LHP Kwang Hyun Kim (1-0, 4.15) will make his third start of the season. In his last start, Kim hurled 5 2/3 innings and allowing one run on five hits and eight strikeouts against Cincinnati. He did not walk a batter.
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
