Eflin pitches into 8th, Phillies beat Cardinals 9-2

<p>PHILADELPHIA &mdash; Zach Eflin pitched into the eighth inning, J.T. Realmuto hit a two-run homer and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the St. Louis Cardinals 9-2 on Friday night.</p>
<p>Eflin (1-0) allowed six hits, struck out six and walked none in seven-plus innings. The lanky right-hander retired 12 straight batters at one point and exited after surrendering a two-run homer to Justin Williams in the eighth. </p>
<p>Cardinals righty Carlos Martinez (0-3) gave up six runs and five hits in five innings.</p>
<p>The Phillies jumped ahead 6-0 in the second with their biggest inning of the season. Nine straight batters reached safely after Martinez got the first out. </p>
<p>Alec Bohm and Didi Gregorius hit consecutive singles. Jean Segura followed with a wind-aided, RBI double that center fielder Dylan Carlson misplayed by about 20 feet. After Mickey Moniak was intentionally walked to load the bases, Eflin was hit by a pitch to force in a run.</p>
<p>McCutchen then lined a two-run single to right and Hoskins walked to again load the bases. Bryce Harper ripped a two-run double to right-center to give Eflin a comfortable cushion.</p>
<p>Realmuto connected off Kodi Whitley in the seventh, increasing the lead to 8-0.</p>
<p>Williams ended Eflin’s night when he launched his first career homer, an opposite-field drive to right-center. </p>
<p>JACKIE ROBINSON DAY</p>
<p>Both teams wore No. 42 to honor Jackie Robinson. Phillies left fielder Andrew McCutchen tips his cap before every at-bat and after every homer because Robinson acknowledged his wife, Rachel, that way at a home game as portrayed by the late Chadwick Boseman in the movie “42.” </p>
<p>“The adversities he battled on and off the field is something I could not begin to fathom,” McCutchen said. “He is my idol and he will forever be a legend. … My gesture is as an ode to Jackie and Rachel.” </p>
<p>TRAINER’S ROOM</p>
<p>Cardinals: RHP Dakota Hudson was transferred from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injury list on Thursday. Hudson had Tommy John surgery last September and it’s uncertain whether he’ll return late this season.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>LHP Matt Moore (0-0, 7.56 ERA) makes his third start for the Phillies while LHP Kwang Hyun Kim makes his season debut for the Cardinals on Saturday night. Kim had an excellent rookie season, going 3-0 with a 1.62 ERA last year.</p>
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