Cardinals 3, Phillies 1
Ryan Theriot and Nick Punto recorded a pair of hits - including RBI singles in the fourth inning - and Jake Westbrook tossed seven strong innings as the St. Louis Cardinals secured a 3-1 home triumph over the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday.
Jon Jay provided insurance by plating Punto with a single in the seventh for St. Louis, which welcomed back Tony La Russa. The manager missed the team's last six games after being diagnosed with shingles.
Three-time National League Most Valuable Player Albert Pujols started at third base for the first time since Game 4 of the 2002 NLCS. Pujols volunteered to play third in order to get another right-handed bat in the lineup against lefthander Cliff Lee. Punto, who was originally scheduled to play third base, moved to second and Allen Craig occupied right field.
The managerial moves - coupled with Lee (2-4) issuing a career-high six walks - provided enough offense for Westbrook (3-3), who permitted one run and four hits. Eduardo Sanchez pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Fernando Salas retired the side in order in the ninth for his fourth save of the season.
Ben Francisco slapped an RBI single to left in the second and Jimmy Rollins had a pair of hits for National League-East leading Philadelphia, which has dropped a season-high three in a row.
Lee, who had walked seven in his previous eight starts this season, yielded three runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings.