PHILADELPHIA • Cardinals righthander Mike Leake, who had given up 13 runs over 17 innings in his last three starts, blanked the Philadelphia Phillies on seven singles over seven innings Sunday. A diving catch in right field by Stephen Piscotty in the seventh helped preserve a 5-0 Cardinals lead.
Leake walked only one and struck out seven before departing after the inning, having passed the 100-pitch mark. He stranded four runners in the first two innings when he gave up four singles and a walk.
He also pitched out of a first-and-third spot in the sixth when the second of two hits he allowed in the inning, Ryan Howard’s single, glanced off Leake’s glove and then hit second-base umpire Bill Welke in the left knee.