Adam Morgan repeated the routine six times, once before each inning of his first major-league start Sunday.
The 25-year-old circled the mound as the Phillies threw his last warm-up pitch around the horn. When Morgan caught the ball from Maikel Franco, he tucked his glove under his right armpit and leaned over the back of the mound. Then he smacked the rosin bag three times against his left hand.
The pattern worked fine as he tossed 52/3 innings and gave up one run in the Phillies' 9-2 win over the Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park.
Morgan became the first Phillies starter to win a decision since Cole Hamels beat the Nationals on May 23, a stretch of 25 games.