Rolen's paybacks are sweet for Cards

ST. LOUIS -- Scott Rolen had a little something extra for his old team.

Rolen had a big overall day with three hits and three defensive stops at third base in the Cardinals' 3-0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.

The Cardinals, tied with Houston for first place, took two of three in the series despite going 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position. The Phillies have lost five of six since sweeping the Cardinals last week in Philadelphia, where Rolen was booed every at-bat.

"It was a big win for us," Rolen said. "We kind of came out of Philadelphia with our tail between our legs.

"We get swept there, we drop the first game here and end up winning the series, that shows a little something about this team."

Brett Tomko, who might have been pitching for his spot in the rotation after the acquisition of Sterling Hitchcock on Friday, pitched scoreless ball into the seventh to help the Cardinals stay tied for the NL Central lead. The team has indicated that Hitchcock, a forgotten man on the Yankees' staff, will get a start soon.

Tomko (10-8) entered the game leading the NL in hits, runs and home runs allowed, and struggled in his last start, giving up six runs in three innings at Philadelphia.

But he's also won three of his last four outings. Tomko didn't allow a hit until Jimmy Rollins' two-out single in the fifth and worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth.

"I think everybody just keeps looking at my stats," Tomko said. "It drives me a little crazy because the last 15 starts or so I've pitched pretty good and I've been pretty consistent.

"All you see is a big ERA and not a whole bunch of wins, but I think there's a bigger story than that."

Tomko gave up five hits with three walks and a strikeout, leaving with the bases loaded again and one out in the seventh.

Steve Kline escaped by getting Bobby Abreu on a roller to the mound, and Jim Thome on a popup on a full count to shallow left. Thome was hitless in three at-bats, dropping his impressive numbers against the Cardinals this year to 9-for-20 with five homers and 10 RBIs.

Thome's two-run, eighth-inning homer off Kline was the go-ahead hit in the Phillies' victory in the series opener on Friday.

"You've got to forget about what happened the other day and just go out and pitch," Kline said. "I got my revenge today."

Mike DeJean worked the ninth for his 19th save in 27 chances. He has pitched twice for the Cardinals since being acquired Friday night and got a chance to close on Sunday because Jason Isringhausen threw 36 pitches in a five-out save a day earlier.

The Cardinals got a pair of sacrifice flies to shallow center off Kevin Millwood (12-9), both set up by Rolen doubles and each time capitalizing on the weak arm of Marlon Byrd.

Jim Edmonds scored on Chris Widger's fly ball in the fourth for the game's first run, and Rolen scored on Orlando Palmeiro's fly ball for a 2-0 lead in the sixth.

"I thought the second one was on line," Byrd said. "I've got to make the plays, that's all."

Rolen, who won his fourth Gold Glove in five seasons last year, grabbed Pat Burrell's liner to end the fourth. He also fielded a tough hop on Byrd's grounder to end the fifth, but his best play was a diving stop to his left on Chase Utley's bases-loaded grounder in the sixth. After gloving the ball, Rolen got up in time to throw to second for an inning-ending forceout.

"You just can't hit it to him," Burrell said. "You're out. Whether he dives or whatever, he's going to make the play every time."

Tomko also benefited earlier the sixth from a running catch at the wall by Edmonds, whose grab in center robbed Abreu.

The Cardinals added a run in the eighth on a bases-loaded squeeze by So Taguchi off Mike Williams.

Noteworthy

The Phillies are 2-4 with seven games remaining on a 13-game trip, their longest of the season. ... St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols, who entered Friday with a 30-game hitting streak, is 0-for-12 the last three games. He stranded five runners in scoring position on Sunday. ... Abreu was 0-for-4 to end a 10-game hitting streak. He was 20-for-42 during the run. ... Tomko has pitched 1,004 1-3 innings in his career. ... Kerry Robinson was 3-for-5 in the leadoff slot for the Cardinals, and is on an 8-for-14 tear.