Matthew Liberatore shuts out Phillies in dominant victory
- Matthew Liberatore dominated on the mound, pitching six shutout innings and striking out seven batters.
- Willson Contreras and Jordan Walker contributed to the offensive effort with their home runs.
- The Cardinals ended a long series drought against the Phillies, taking their first series since 2017.
In St. Louis, Missouri, on April 13, 2025, Matthew Liberatore led the St. Louis Cardinals to a decisive 7-0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies, pitching six shutout innings. Liberatore performed impressively, allowing only three hits, walking one batter, and striking out seven, matching his season high in strikeouts. This game marked the Cardinals' second consecutive shutout against the Phillies, as they also blanked them on April 11, 2025. The pitching staff contributed to the success, with Phil Maton, JoJo Romero, and Kyle Leahy each adding a scoreless inning to maintain the shutout. The offense for the Cardinals got on the board in the fourth inning when Willson Contreras hit his first home run of the season to left field off Philadelphia's pitcher Zack Wheeler, giving St. Louis a 2-0 lead. This marked a significant milestone for Contreras, as it was his first homer since August 10, 2024. The Cardinals continued to add to their lead in the sixth inning with doubles from Brendan Donovan, Nolan Arenado, and Nolan Gorman, extending their advantage to 4-0. Jordan Walker then homered in the seventh inning, bringing the score to 7-0. The game was critical for the Cardinals as it marked their first series win against the Phillies since June 20-22, 2017, breaking a streak of 12 series without a victory. This successful performance showcased the Cardinals' capability to dominate a team that had previously bested them in numerous encounters. The Phillies struggled, with Wheeler allowing four runs and seven hits in his six innings of work, along with a walk and three strikeouts. The offensive struggles for the Phillies were highlighted by their inability to convert opportunities, failing to score despite having runners on second and third in the second inning. As the season progresses, the Cardinals' victory over the Phillies solidifies their confidence and sets a positive tone as they prepare for their upcoming three-game series against the Houston Astros. The Cardinals' pitching and timely hitting will be crucial as they aim to build on this momentum in the weeks ahead, while the Phillies must regroup and seek answers to their recent performance issues to get back on track in the competitive National League.