Phils hold on, best St. Louis 10-9 on road in offensive battle

PBR - The last time the Phillies were at Busch Stadium, they were eliminated from the playoffs and setting out for a long offseason.

On Thursday night, back in St. Louis, the team looked to get back to its winning ways and put the past in the rear view mirror with a 10-9 victory against St. Louis starter Jake Westbrook.

Phils first basemen Ty Wigginton hit a solo home run in the eighth inning that proved to be the game-winner.

Joe Blanton started, getting knocked around for seven runs on 10 hits in 7 1/3 innings in a slug fest that went back-and-forth for the majority of the night.

On the other hand, Westbrook was just as bad on the mound, getting shelled for six runs in only 3 2/3 innings in the no-decision for the Cardinals (25-20).

Closer Jonathon Papelbon pitched the ninth to pick up his 13th save on the season

In the fifth inning, St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina nailed a three-run shot to center to even it up, 7-7, after being down by six runs.

But, the Phils (23-23) were able to regain the lead the next inning when second basemen Freddy Galvis drove in Shane Victorino. Next up, pinch-hitter Mike Fontenot added an RBI-single.

Ty Wigginton (3-for-5, HR, 2 RBI) and Galvis each had two-run singles in the first inning for the early lead. Then, it was Victorino who doubled in the second to make it 6-0 Phillies.

Galvis ended 3-for-5 with three RBI to raise his average to .250 while Victorino went 2-for-5 with three batted-in as well.

St. Louis' offense put back four runs though behind the bats of Skip Schumaker and David Freese, both generating runs on doubles. Freese also added another run with a monster home run in the seventh inning.

Friday night, Cliff Lee (0-2, 2.66 ERA) will take the mound for the Phillies at Busch Stadium against ex-Phillies pitcher Kyle Lohse (5-1, 2.91 ERA) in the second game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 8:15.