Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Roy Halladay tossed seven strong innings and Jayson Werth hit a three-run home run as the Philadelphia Phillies took a 7-2 decision over the St. Louis Cardinals in the finale of a four-game set.
Halladay Strong Again As Phillies Top Cards In Matchup Of NL Elite
Halladay (6-1) gave up two runs -- one earned -- on eight hits with three walks and nine strikeouts for the Phillies, who took the last three games of the set after dropping the opener.
Werth finished the game 3-for-4 with two runs score while Ryan Howard drove in two runs and scored once for Philadelphia, which has won six of its last eight games.
The Phils organization received some bad news before the game as Hall of Fame pitcher Robin Roberts passed away at the age of 83.
Roberts pitched for 19 years in the majors from 1948-66, including his first 14 seasons with Philadelphia. He led the Phillies to the 1950 World Series with a record of 20-11 and a 3.02 earned run average.
A seven-time All-Star right-hander, Roberts posted a career record of 286-245 with a 3.41 ERA in 676 games, including 609 starts.
Albert Pujols and Jason LaRue each drove in a run while Kyle Lohse (0-2) was tagged for five runs -- three earned -- on nine hits with a walk and three strikeouts over four innings of work for the Cardinals, who had won seven of eight coming into the series.
The Phils got on the board in the first as Chase Utley and Howard got on board with two outs and Werth followed by hitting a 2-2 pitch that just made it over the wall in right for a 3-0 lead.
St. Louis got one back in the second as David Freese reached third base to lead off as his fly ball went off the glove of Werth and later came home as LaRue hit a grounder to short that Wilson Valdez threw over the head of Howard.
Philly worked across two more runs in the second. Halladay reached base on a bad throw from Tyler Greene and Shane Victorino followed with a double. The next two batters recorded outs, but Howard plunked a single to center to bring home both runners for a 5-1 lead.
The Cards loaded the bases in the fifth, but it was with two outs and Halladay struck out Matt Holliday to end the frame.
The Phillies added a run in the fifth when Raul Ibanez hit a 2-0 pitch into the seats in right field for a 6-1 lead.
St. Louis got a run across in the seventh on an RBI single off the bat of Pujols that left men at first and second with two outs. Halladay, though, got Holliday to ground out on the first pitch and end the inning.
Philadelphia got another run across in the seventh on a Carlos Ruiz single that scored Werth, who had doubled to right-center with one out, for a 7-2 advantage.
Chad Durbin took the mound in the eighth and got the first out, but then hit the next two batters. However, he got Jon Jay to hit into a double play to end the inning.
Danys Baez then worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning to close out the game.
The Phillies welcome Atlanta for a three-game set starting on Friday...The Cardinals travel to Pittsburgh for a three-game series beginning on Friday...Philadelphia has won nine of 11 against St. Louis...Lohse fell to 2-3 in eight career starts against Philadelphia...Halladay improved to 2-0 in two career starts against St. Louis.
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