ST. LOUIS (AP) — Nick Castellanos had a two-run double to stake Philadelphia to an early lead, and the Phillies turned five double plays in a 4-1 win Saturday over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Cristopher Sánchez (1-0) allowed eight hits in 6 1/3 innings, but he kept inducing ground balls to get out of trouble. Sanchez struck out three and walked two.
José Alvarado worked a spotless ninth inning for his third save.
Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas (0-2) gave up three runs and three hits in five innings. He struck out six and walked two, with both of those runners coming around to score.
Victor Scott II sped into the left-center field gap and dove in an attempt to catch Castellanos’ hard line-drive in the first, but the ball bounced off his glove as Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber came around to score.
The Phillies added runs on Bryson Stott’s RBI double in the fifth and Trea Turner’s two-out single in the seventh.
Willson Contreras drove in the Cardinals’ run in the sixth, when he followed Luken Baker’s double with an RBI single.
Sánchez preserved a 2-0 lead in the third inning when Baker grounded into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded. The Phillies turned double plays in each of the first three innings.
In the fifth, Stott’s error trying to catch a toss from Turner cost them a chance at another but only for a moment. The next batter, Thomas Saggese, grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Philadelphia turned its final double play on Nolan Arenado’s grounder in the eighth.
Philadelphia has not lost a series at Busch Stadium since June 2017. Since then, the Phillies have won nine series and tied three.
Philadelphia RHP Zack Wheeler (1-0, 3.44 ERA) faces Cardinals LHP Matthew Liberatore (0-1, 5.84) in the series finale.
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Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sánchez throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker makes a catch on a line drive from Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 12, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas reacts to a call during the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)
CINCINNATI (AP) — Austin Hays drove in four runs in his season debut, and the Cincinnati Reds beat Luis Castillo and the Seattle Mariners 8-4 on Tuesday night.
Hays, who signed with Cincinnati in free agency, singled in Matt McLain in the third inning. He capped the Reds' four-run fifth with a three-run shot to center.
Hays missed the start of the season with a left calf strain that occurred on the final day of spring training.
Castillo (1-2) was charged with six runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings in his first career start against Cincinnati. He was traded from the Reds to the Mariners in July 2022.
Dylan Moore homered twice and drove in four runs for Seattle, which had won four in a row. Moore had three of the Mariners' six hits.
Moore's tiebreaking two-run homer made it 4-2 in the fifth, but the Reds rallied in the bottom half.
Gavin Lux had four hits for Cincinnati in its fourth consecutive win. McLain walked three times and scored two runs in his return to the lineup after being sidelined by a hamstring injury.
Ben Williamson went 1 for 3 and scored a run in his big league debut with Seattle.
Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo permitted four runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out six and walked one.
Scott Barlow (1-0) got one out for the win.
Seattle loaded the bases in the sixth for Cal Raleigh, who homered in each of the previous three games against Texas. But Raleigh grounded out against Graham Ashcraft.
Castillo had a seven-pitch first inning before throwing 53 pitches to get through the next two.
Right-hander Bryce Miller (0-2, 4.50 ERA) pitches for Seattle on Wednesday, and right-hander Nick Martinez (0-2, 6.06 ERA) starts for Cincinnati.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Nick Lodolo throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Seattle Mariners' Ben Williamson hits a single during his major league debut in the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Cincinnati. All the players are wearing 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Seattle Mariners' Dylan Moore gestures as he rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Seattle Mariners pitcher Luis Castillo throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Cincinnati Reds' Gavin Lux watches his RBI single during the third inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Cincinnati. All the players are wearing 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
