Phillies split sloppy doubleheader with Cardinals: Schwarber’s streak ends and a glaring Aaron Nola problem

It was a tale of two very different ballgames for the Phillies down at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday.

In Game 1, they managed to gut out a gritty 2-1 win, snapping the Cardinals’ nine-game win streak behind a vintage Jesús Luzardo performance and a late Bryce Harper clutch moment.

Game 2 was an absolute train wreck. Aaron Nola got shelled and the bullpen provided zero help in an embarrassing 14-7 loss.

Game 1: Harper Delivers Late, Luzardo Dominates

For a while, it looked like the Phillies were going to let another one slip away. In a cold, wet, old-school pitcher’s duel, Bryce Harper reminded everyone why you never count him out, shaved head or not.

The Phillies had just three hits heading into the 7th inning, but they finally cracked the Cardinals’ bullpen when Bryson Stott tied it up with an infield single, and Harper followed it up two batters later with a bloop go-ahead RBI single to left-center.

Jesús Luzardo shoved again, tossing seven innings of one-run ball, striking out six and keeping the Phillies in it until the bats finally woke up.

Kyle Schwarber’s historic 47-game on-base streak came to an end, but the Phils still got the win thanks to clutch pitching and Harper’s late heroics.

Final score: Phillies 2, Cardinals 1. Old-school baseball.

Full Game 1 recap here.

Game 2: Nola Implodes, Cards Crush Phillies 14-7

If Game 1 was a pitcher’s duel, Game 2 was a beer league slugfest—and the Phillies didn’t have enough firepower to get the job done.

Aaron Nola got absolutely torched, giving up 12 hits and 9 runs in just 3.2 innings, including bombs from Alec Burleson, Lars Nootbaar, and Masyn Winn. It was the worst outing of his 11-year career, and it looked every bit like it.

The Phillies actually jumped out to a 5-1 lead after Nick Castellanos’ two-run double and J.T. Realmuto’s two-run homer in the first inning. Alec Bohm and Kyle Schwarber even added solo shots. That all went out the window when the Cardinals exploded for five in the third and three more in the fourth, turning a party into a funeral.

Burleson finished with 3 hits, 4 RBIs, and the game-winning 2-run single in the fourth off Tanner Banks. The Cardinals piled up 19 hits, while the Phillies bullpen never stood a chance.

Schwarber’s home run in the loss was his 15th of the year, keeping him tied for the MLB lead with Aaron Judge. But that was the only silver lining in what became an ugly, long night in South Philly.

Final score: Cardinals 14, Phillies 7. Woof.

Up Next For The Phillies:

Back at it Friday at The Bank against the Pirates. Ranger Suarez vs. Andrew Heaney. Flush Game 2, regroup, and hope Nola finds himself before the wheels fully come off.

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