ST. LOUIS (AP) - Shane Victorino helped the Philadelphia Phil-lies make a statement.
Victorino and Freddy Galvis each drove in three runs, and Philadelphia defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 10-9 on Thursday.
"We had the early lead, lost the lead early. This was a test of character," said Victorino, one of the major leagues' two Maui-born players. "What kind of team really are we? I think we can be a great team. It's just a matter of us going out there and doing it."
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Philadelphia’s Shane Victorino heads to second base on a two-run double in the second inning of the Phillies’ 10-9 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday.
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Victorino finished 2-for-5 - he hit into a fielder's choice to bring home the game's first run in the top of the first inning, and hit a two-out, two-run double in the second.
Raul Valdes (1-0) got two outs in the fifth to earn the win.
St. Louis scored three times in the fifth to make the score 7-7, but Galvis' single off Fernando Salas (0-3) brought in Victorino for the go-ahead run in the sixth.
"I try to be more relaxed up there," Galvis said. "I try to protect the whole home plate. It was the best game I've ever played, you know."
In the seventh, the Cardinals' David Freese hit a 463-foot homer, the second longest in Busch Stadium's seven-year history.
"I'd say they did a great job of fighting and staying with it, not quitting," St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. "That's something we've seen pretty consistently with this team. You just hate to have to fight that much."
Jonathan Papelbon pitched the ninth inning and improved to 13-for-13 in save opportunities this year.
Philadelphia had a season-high 18 hits - three apiece by Carlos Ruiz, Ty Wigginton and Placido Polanco.
St. Louis' Jake Westbrook allowed six runs in 3 2/3 innings, his shortest outing of the season.
Philadelphia's Joe Blanton permitted seven runs in 4 1/3 innings. He surrendered two home runs, and has given up six in his last two starts.
