Holliday provides offense in Cardinals' 4-1 win

PHILADELPHIA -- Jake Westbrook is having a season to savor.

He wants to keep it going deep into October.

Matt Holliday hit a three-run homer and Westbrook won his fifth straight start to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night.

The World Series champion Cardinals are in the thick of the wild-card hunt, and Westbrook gave them a needed 7 2/3 strong innings. Westbrook (12-8) allowed four hits, walked two and struck out three and has won five straight starts for the first time in his career.

The Cardinals are trying to make a run at defending their championship, and Westbrook has helped keep afloat their playoff dreams. He's showed his durability with 12 straight starts of at least six innings and matched his win total from 2011 (12-9) in 10 fewer starts (33 in 2011; 23 in 2012).

Phillies baserunner Chase Utley is forced out as Cardinals shortstop Rafael Furcal throws to first during the first inning Saturday in Philadelphia. (TOM MIHALEK ~ Associated Press)

"He was as good as we've seen him," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "His sinker was falling off the table."

Jason Motte struck out two in a scoreless ninth for his 26th save.

Cliff Lee (2-7) retired 12 straight batters before the Cardinals tagged him for consecutive hits to open the sixth inning. Holliday followed with a shot to right for his 22nd homer of the season.

"The way Jake pitched, he deserved to win," Holliday said.

Lee has allowed eight homers over his last three home starts and 19 overall this season. Lee gave up 18 homers in 232 2/3 innings last season.

Cardinals starting pitcher Jake Westbrook follows through on a pitch during the first inning Saturday.

He remained winless at home this season.

Lee, who was staked to a 1-0 lead, was cruising and had his first home victory since Sept. 5, 2011, in sight until Holliday took him deep. Carlos Beltran added an RBI single in the eighth to make it 4-1 and chase the lefty. Lee allowed 10 hits, walked none and struck out four over seven-plus innings.

He left two runners stranded in the first inning and stranded another runner at third in the second.

Lee, a 17-game winner last season, was expected to form a trio of aces with Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels that would keep the Phillies in contention for a sixth straight playoff spot.

It hasn't worked out that way, and the Phillies have disappointed.

"I had the game in hand," Lee said.

Westbrook left after allowing a two-out single in the eighth. Marc Rzepczynski retired Chase Utley on a pop up to end the inning.

"I got a lot of ground balls and the defense was working for me," Westbrook said.

Westbrook allowed his only run in the first inning on Ryan Howard's fielder's choice. Utley's hard slide into second rattled shortstop Rafael Furcal on his throw to get Howard, which allowed Dom Brown to score from third.

The Phillies never had a runner reach third after the first inning.

"Our offense was really weak tonight," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.