Gloves Up, Cards Down: Phillies flash leather in 4-1 win behind Cristopher Sánchez

If you’re a fan of web gems, situational hitting, and old-school baseball done right, Saturday’s 4-1 Phillies win over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium was your kind of party.

Cristopher Sánchez didn’t overpower St. Louis. He didn’t need to. He just let the infield cook.

The Phillies turned five double plays, tying a feat that’s only happened eight times in franchise history since 1901.

Four of those came off Sánchez’s arm, with Jordan Romano inducing the fifth in the eighth. You’ve heard of “pitch to contact” — this was “pitch to gloves.”

Let’s run through it.

In the first inning, Luken Baker chopped a grounder to Trea Turner, who started a smooth 6-4-3.

In the second, Bryson Stott handled a bouncer from Jordan Walker, stepping on the bag and firing to first for a 4-3 twin killing.

Then came the third, where Sánchez loaded the bases with one out. No sweat — Baker again obliged with a double play ball to Stott, who started a 4-6-3 to escape the jam.

The fifth inning nearly added a sixth DP, but Stott couldn’t quite barehand Turner’s toss. Still, Sánchez regrouped, and on the next batter, Thomas Saggese grounded into yet another 4-6-3 to end the inning. Four double plays, one pitcher.

Romano closed the book with the fifth in the eighth inning, putting a bow on one of the sharpest defensive efforts the Phillies have had in years.

On the Other Side of the Box Score

The offense didn’t exactly explode, but it showed up in the moments that mattered.

In the first, Bryce Harper singled and Kyle Schwarber walked, setting the table for Nick Castellanos, who cleared them both with a double to left.

Phillies strike first with a Nick Castellanos double in the gap.#RingTheBell | #Phillies pic.twitter.com/v2YgqSHAYU

— The Liberty Line (@LibertyLinePHL) April 12, 2025

In the fifth, Brandon Marsh hustled around from first on a Bryson Stott double to make it 3-0.

Comin' in Stott! pic.twitter.com/YRD8VOh2Xx

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) April 12, 2025

After the Cardinals got on the board in the sixth (a Willson Contreras single scoring Baker), Trea Turner responded in the seventh with an RBI knock to score Alec Bohm.

Another one, thank you! pic.twitter.com/mzNvmpisVx

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) April 12, 2025

Final score: Phillies 4, Cardinals 1. Five double plays.

Game Notes:

• Sánchez is just the sixth Phillies pitcher since 2000 to turn four DPs in a game.
• It was the first time the Philly turned five in a game since June 1, 2021.
• With the win, Sánchez improved his season ERA to 3.00 and now has allowed just one earned run over his last 12.1 innings.

Bottom Line

Cristopher Sánchez gave the Phillies exactly what they needed: a gritty, ground-ball-heavy outing backed by a locked-in infield. And when the gloves are working like this, a few timely hits are all you need. The Phils will go for the series win on Sunday, but Saturday’s matinee was a masterclass in winning the old-fashioned way.

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