Jerad Eickhoff is making up for lost time.
Eickhoff allowed three hits in eight innings, César Hernández homered and drove in three runs and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-0 on Wednesday.
After winning 20 of their first 30 games, the Cardinals lost for the sixth time in their last seven.
Cardinals: RHP Michael Wacha (2-0, 5.17) gets the start in the opener of a four-game series against the visiting Pirates and RHP Joe Musgrove (1-3, 2.63) on Thursday night.
After struggling recently while pitching out of the stretch, Brad Peacock went to a full windup Wednesday night and found a little something extra.
Michael Brantley homered twice, Peacock pitched seven innings and Josh James completed the three-hitter in Houston’s 9-0 win over the Kansas City Royals.
Royals: RHP Homer Bailey (3-3, 5.25 ERA) will start the first of three games against the Phillies on Friday after a day off on Thursday.