Painter works 7 strong innings, Schwarber hits MLB-leading 38th HR as Phillies rout Cardinals 12-3

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Rookie Andrew Painter pitched seven strong innings and Kyle Schwarber hit his MLB-leading 38th homer of the season as the Philadelphia Phillies extended their winning streak to eight games with a 12-3 rout of the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday night.

Every Phillies starter had at least one hit. Edmundo Sosa had two hits, including a two-run double in the first inning. Alec Bohm also had two hits and scored twice. Both singled and scored as part of a four-run outburst in the third inning.

Bryce Harper hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning, his 26th of the season.

Painter (3-8) allowed one run on five hits with eight strikeouts in his longest outing of the season. The 23-year-old right-hander had been demoted in June after a 12-4 loss to Miami, his eighth loss in nine decisions with an ERA above seven at the time. Since being recalled July 31, Painter has gone 2-0 in five starts, his ERA dipping to 6.04.

With Hunter Dobbins becoming the second St. Louis starter in two days to be placed on the injured list, the Cardinals called up highly valued lefty prospect Quinn Mathews to make his third start in August after two previous promotions.

Mathews (0-2) went five innings, allowing seven earned runs on 10 hits. He gave up all the runs and hits in the first three innings before settling down.

Mathews did record three strikeouts, with Harper the victim all three times. But the Phillies slugger took out his frustrations on reliever Ryan Fernandez in the sixth.

St. Louis’ JJ Wetherholt had a solo homer in the eighth inning, his 17th of the season.

Cardinals RHP Kyle Leahy (10-4, 3.24 ERA) will face Phillies LHP Cristopher Sánchez (16-4, 2.51) in the finale of the three-game series.

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