Pallante pitches Cardinals past Phillies 2-0

Andre Pallante pitched seven shutout innings and rookie catcher Yohel Pozo came off the bench to drive in a run, lifting the St. Louis Cardinals to a 2-0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night.

Pallante (2-0) gave up just two singles, struck out four and walked two.

Phil Maton retired the side in the eighth and Ryan Helsey got three outs after giving up a leadoff single in the ninth for his second save of the season, preserving St. Louis’ first shutout.

Aaron Nola (0-3) allowed two runs and seven hits in five innings and struck out seven. Nola had been 4-0 in five previous starts against St. Louis since Game 2 of the NL wild-card playoffs in 2022.

Pozo, who made his Cardinals debut Monday night in Pittsburgh, entered the game to catch in the second inning after shortstop Masyn Winn left with lower back spasms. 

Pozo finished 3 for 4 with a run scored, matching his career high for hits previously done with Texas in 2021.

LHP Cristopher Sánchez (0-0, 4.09) faces RHP Miles Mikolas (0-1, 11.25) in the second game of the series Saturday.



(AP Photo Jeff Roberson)