Cards' Moss blasts tape-measure shot against Phillies in 4-0 victory

ST. LOUIS -- Jaime Garcia watched in wonder as teammate Brandon Moss launched a moonshot at Busch Stadium.

Garcia pitched seven sharp innings Thursday as the St. Louis Cardinals blanked the Philadelphia Phillies.

Later, Garcia wanted to rave about the 462-foot drive by Moss. It was the longest home run by a left-handed hitter in the history of new Busch Stadium, which opened in 2006.

"It was a bomb," Garcia said. "He hit it a long way."

Garcia also was impressive. The left-hander gave up just two hits, walked none and struck out five.

The Cardinals' Brandon Moss rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Phillies during the first inning Thursday in St. Louis.Michael Thomas Associated Press

Garcia (2-2) threw 82 pitches, 61 for strikes.

"As far as stuff, it's been great," Garcia said. "I've just got to continue to build on that."

The Phillies were certainly impressed.

"Basically, he had us eating out of his hands," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "He did everything you could ask a pitcher to do."

Stephen Piscotty drove in two runs and also made an outstanding catch in right field to help preserve the shutout.

Moss unloaded off Jerad Eickhoff (1-4) for a solo homer in the first inning.

"I feel like I hit it really well," Moss said. "I'm still searching for consistency, but I'll take that one. Any homer is a good homer."

Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal took over to pitch the ninth and gave up two quick singles.

Andres Blanco followed with a foul fly ball to right and Piscotty ran a long way, then made a hard, headfirst dive onto the dirt for the catch.

"It was a great effort by our guys all over the field," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "We put together something late offensively, something good to build on."

The Phillies threatened in the fifth after Cameron Rupp and Tyler Goeddel singled, but Peter Bourjos lined into a double play.

St. Louis scored three times in the seventh. Ruben Tejada hit a sacrifice fly and Piscotty delivered a bases-loaded double with two outs.

The Phillies scored just eight runs in the four-game series and lost three times. They were shut out twice.

"We're not frustrated at all," shortstop Freddy Galvis said. "That's baseball right there. Sometimes you're going to score runs, sometimes you're not. We'll be fine. We just have to keep working."

Up next

Cardinals right-hander Carlos Martinez (4-1, 2.60) faces Pittsburgh left-hander Francisco Liriano (2-1, 3.86) in the opener of a three-game series tonight. Martinez has pitched at least six innings in all five starts this season.