Lackey holds down Phillies until seventh in Cards' loss

ST. LOUIS -- Except for the result, John Lackey had no complaints about his work on the mound.

"I'll take 30 more of those and we'll see what happens," the St. Louis Cardinals' pitcher said Monday night after a 4-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

He wasn't dissatisfied with his pitch on Ben Revere's opposite-field, two-run double for the go-ahead hit in the seventh inning, either. The flare to left kicked up chalk on the foul line.

"It wasn't terrible, it wasn't great," Lackey said.

Lackey could have helped the Cardinals get more in their lone big scoring opportunity against Cole Hamels. Lackey struck out attempting to bunt after Jon Jay drew a leadoff walk, and St. Louis needed five baserunners to get a run on Matt Holliday's RBI single.

Lackey has spent virtually his entire career in the American League but said he felt "for the most part, pretty comfortable" at the plate.

"Obviously, tonight I didn't get it down," Lackey said. "He threw me a breaking ball, changeup -- he kind of showed me a little bit of everything. It was nice pitching on his part."

Mark Reynolds, who got a spot start in right field, grounded out with the bases loaded to end the inning.

"Those usually come back and get you when you don't do the little things right like getting the bunts down," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "They got the big hit when they needed it and we didn't."

Hamels (1-2) had a season-best nine strikeouts in seven innings and won for the first time in seven starts dating to last September. The Phillies put just two runners in scoring position before the seventh.

Ken Giles got two strikeouts in the eighth and Jonathan Papelbon had two more in the ninth, giving Phillies pitchers 13 strikeouts and earning his fifth save in five tries.

Hamels had been 0-4 with a 3.23 ERA since Sept. 23, receiving four total runs of support while he was in the game. He's 2-2 in seven career starts at Busch Stadium, the other win coming on Aug. 3, 2006, and this was his first victory over the Cardinals since 2007.

The Cardinals have lost two straight since ace Adam Wainwright tore his left Achilles. The team announced before the game that the two-time 20-game winner will miss the rest of the season, and general manager John Mozeliak was optimistic Wainwright will be ready for spring training.

"You feel bad for Adam, for sure," Lackey said. "Especially as someone who's been through a yearlong rehab, that's not a fun thing."

Cody Asche's infield hit off first baseman Matt Adams' glove began the Phillies' seventh. After Revere's double, Odubel Herrera followed with an RBI single, his third hit of the day.

Carlos Ruiz doubled for his fourth hit leading off the eighth against Matt Belisle and scored on a groundout by Darin Ruf.

Trainer's room

Phillies: OF Domonic Brown could be close to joining the team after starting the year on the disabled list with tendinitis in his left Achilles. He is scheduled to complete a 20-game rehab assignment Tuesday.

Cardinals: OF Jason Heyward (hamstring) did not start after being removed from Sunday's loss at Milwaukee. He struck out as a pinch hitter in the ninth and is expected to play Tuesday. One reason to sit him Monday: He's a .219 career hitter against Hamels with no RBIs in 32 at-bats. Jhonny Peralta batted second for the 21st time in his career in place of Heyward.

Up next

Cardinals: Michael Wacha (3-0, 1.33 ERA) is 8-1 with a 2.24 ERA in his career at home. He'll be facing the Phillies for the first time and is 4-2 with a 1.52 ERA against NL East foes.

Slick fielding

Lackey snared Revere's liner to start a double play in the fifth, and third baseman Matt Carpenter made a diving stop down the line and threw out Herrera.

"It was pretty quick," Lackey said. "I didn't have much to do with that one."