By Sam Bush
Jose Martinez drove in five runs and had four hits to help the Cardinals rout the Phillies 12-4.
Francisco Pena homered and also had a single and double for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals set a season high with 15 hits, but got none off Phillies shortstop Pedro Florimon, who threw a perfect eighth inning in his second pitching appearance of the season. Florimon then hit his second home run of the season to cap off his night in the ninth.
Phillies manager Gabe Kapler had plenty of praise for Florimon.
“What an inspiration he has been to our team,” Kapler said. “I walked over to him and said `Flo, I’d really like you to pitch this inning for us and he just looked at me and said `Absolutely, I got you.”
Michael Wacha (5-1) gave up two runs on five hits. He struck out eight and walked two to earn his 50th career win.
Despite the rain delay, Wacha held his opponent to two or fewer runs for his sixth consecutive start.
“It truly is an art to being able to stay prepared,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. “I think he kind of figured that out by force.”
Jake Arrieta (3-2) lasted three innings in his shortest outing of the season. He allowed four runs on five hits with two walks.
“I didn’t do my job of establishing strikes early, which makes it harder for the guys coming in after me,” Arrieta said, “Tough conditions, a delay, but you can’t really use that as an excuse because those guys have to deal with the same circumstances. Just one to forget.”
Martinez’s four hits matched his career high set on April 12 at Cincinnati.
Pena had his second consecutive three hit game including his first home run of the season. He is hitting .360 since Yadier Molina was placed on the disabled list May 6.
“I’m not trying to do more. I’m not trying to put pressure on myself. I’m not trying to put my team on my back,” Pena said. “My mentality is just winning ballgames and controlling the pitching staff.”
Odubel Herrera extended his streak of reaching base to 44 consecutive games with a two-run single off Wacha in the fifth inning.
Home plate umpire David Rackley departed the game prior to the eighth inning. Second base umpire Hunter Wendelstedt replaced him.
