The Phils dropped their third straight game as the offense continues to act clueless, as the Phils lose to the Cards, 3-1.

The Phils took the lead in the second as, with one man on, and with one man out, Ben Francisco hits an RBI single, knocking in John Mayberry, Jr., who had been safe at first on a force out, 5-4, wiping out at second base Ryan Howard, who had earlier walked, then stole second base, giving the Phils a 1-0 lead.  The Cardinals then took the lead in the fourth as, with the bases loaded, via walks to Matt Holliday and Lance Berkman, sending Holliday to second base, and an infield single by Yadier Molina, moving both Holliday and Berkman up a base, and with one man out, Nick Punto hits a two-run single, knocking in both Holliday and Berkman, giving the Cards a 2-1 lead, while sending Molina up to second base. The Cards then added to their lead in the seventh as, with two men on, and with one man out, Jon Jay hits an RBI single, scoring Punto, who had earlier singled, then moved up to second base on pinch hitter Kyle Lohse’s sacrifice bunt, making it a 3-1 Cards’ lead, while sending Ryan Theriot, who had just walked, on to second base.  That would end up as the final score as Fernando Salas converted his fourth save of the year with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Cliff Lee (2-4, 3.84) took the lost as he went six and a third innings, giving up three runs on six hits and six walks, while striking out four, in what has to be one of the worst games that he has pitched in his career, based on the high number of walks, the most in his career, that he had given up.  Michael Stutes pitched two-third of an inning, as he got the one man that he would face to hit into a doubleplay. J.C. Romero pitched a scoreless inning, giving up a hit. Jake Westbrook (3-3, 6.07) gets the win as he went seven inning, giving up a run on four hits and three walks, while striking out one. Eduardo Sanchez collected his fifth hold of the year as he pitched a scoreless inning, giving up a hit, while striking out one. Fernando Salas received his fourth save of the season as he pitched a 1-2-3 inning, striking out a batter.

The Phils had just five hits in the game, with Jimmy Rollins leading the team with two hits, a single and a double. Ben Francisco (Single, RBI), Cliff Lee (Single) and pinch hitter Ross Gload (Single), had the other three Phils’ hits, as the offense has once more been its own worst enemy, getting themselves out against a weak pitcher. How much longer are these guys going to keep doing that until they really act like the American League team people keep claiming they are. Translation, start taking pitches and look for your pitch to hit, guys. Harumph!!!

The Phils (25-15, 1st East) will conclude their short two-game series with the Cards (23-19, 2nd Central) with a night game tonight. The game will be played at Busch Stadium, and will start at 8:15 pm EDT (7:15 CDT). The Phils will send to the mound Roy Oswalt (3-1, 3.33), who is coming off a stay on the disabled list. In his last start, a lost against the Diamondbacks on April 26, he went only three innings, giving up five runs on six hits and a walk, in the Phils’ 7-5 lost. He will be trying to stop the Phils’ present three-game slide. The Cards will counter with Jaime Garcia (5-0, 1.89), who is coming off a win against the Cubs on May 12, as he pitched seven strong innings, giving up just a run on nine scattered hits and a walk, as he struck out four, in the Cards’ 9-1 rout. He will be shooting for his sixth win of the year. The Phils hope to avoid the sweep and come back to Philadelphia with a .500 road trip.