The Phillies put the game to bed early against the Cardinals, winning 12-3 in their regular-season meeting on Friday night. It was a reunion of sorts, with both sides having squared off just the day before in a closer affair. And here's the thing — this time there was no contest.
Philadelphia came into the night hot, having won four of their last five games. They'd beaten the Cardinals 7-6 on Thursday, then taken two straight against the Marlins. The visitors, by contrast, were finding their rhythm against the Reds but couldn't quite put it together against their rivals. Things came to a head in Philadelphia.
The scoreline told the story without needing any further analysis. Twelve runs against three — a margin that suggested the Cardinals had nothing to do all evening once the Phillies found their groove. No minute-by-minute breakdown is available, but the final tally spoke for itself.
Looking at the broader picture, the Phillies extended their unbeaten run, while the Cardinals' recent form against divisional opponents suggests they'll need to regroup. The gap between where these teams stand remains to be seen, but tonight's result was clear enough.