Phillies dominate Cardinals with five double plays in strong victory

On April 12, 2025, in St. Louis, Missouri, the Philadelphia Phillies faced the St. Louis Cardinals in a crucial game. The Phillies, propelled by a strong performance from Nick Castellanos, won the match 4-1. Castellanos notably contributed with a two-run double that set the tone early, allowing Philadelphia to gain a lead that they would maintain throughout the game. Cristopher Sánchez, the Phillies' starting pitcher who improved his record to 1-0, showcased exceptional skill by allowing eight hits over 6 1/3 innings while striking out three and walking two. His ability to induce ground balls was crucial for escaping trouble at critical moments. José Alvarado later sealed the victory with a flawless performance in the ninth inning, earning his third save of the season. Meanwhile, Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas struggled, giving up three runs and allowing three hits over five innings, which reflected in his record dropping to 0-2. The game’s key moments included Sánchez's excellent pitching that preserved a 2-0 lead by forcing Luken Baker into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded. Throughout the match, the Phillies showcased their defensive strength by executing five double plays, successfully turning them in the first three innings and maintaining a steady composure despite a minor error by Bryson Stott in the fifth. Stott quickly redeemed this by contributing with an RBI double in the fifth that added to the Phillies' offensive momentum. Trea Turner also had a crucial two-out single in the seventh inning, solidifying their lead. The Cardinals managed to score once in the sixth inning thanks to Willson Contreras's RBI single, but it was not enough to challenge the Phillies' lead. This victory marked an important moment in the season as the Phillies continued their dominance at Busch Stadium, not having lost a series there since June 2017. As they anticipate their next game, Philadelphia plans to field starting pitcher Zack Wheeler against the Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore, seeking to capitalize on their current momentum.