ST. LOUIS — Andrew Painter gave the Philadelphia Phillies exactly what they needed at a critical point in their schedule, producing one of the strongest starts of his young Major League career while carrying a no-hit bid into the sixth inning. Behind his dominant performance and several timely offensive contributions, Philadelphia held on for a dramatic 6-5 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday at Busch Stadium.
With the Phillies’ bullpen badly taxed after a demanding stretch of games, Painter’s ability to work deep into the contest was just as valuable as his impressive pitching line. The 23-year-old right-hander delivered six strikeouts, surrendered only two hits and was charged with two earned runs before exiting in the sixth. The two hits represented the fewest he has allowed in any of his 15 starts at the Major League level.
Painter carried the no-hitter into the sixth before finally giving up a hit. He allowed another hit to the final batter he faced, ending an otherwise outstanding afternoon in which he consistently attacked the strike zone and kept the Cardinals’ lineup off balance.
The victory was Painter’s second of the 2026 season and his first since Opening Day, when he earned his first win of the year on March 31. His six strikeouts also marked the fifth time in 15 starts that he has reached that total.
More importantly for Philadelphia, Painter has now strung together three consecutive encouraging starts since returning to the Minors. The Phillies have been looking for signs that their highly regarded young pitcher can establish himself as a dependable rotation piece, and Monday’s performance provided another significant step in that direction.
Interim manager Don Mattingly praised Painter’s recent consistency, noting that the young right-hander has steadily improved since his return from Triple-A. For a Phillies team trying to navigate a difficult portion of the schedule, Painter’s latest outing arrived at an ideal time.
The Phillies desperately needed length from their starter because their bullpen entered the game running on fumes. Jhoan Duran and Orion Kerkering had each appeared in four of the previous five games, while Brooks Raley had worked in two straight contests. The situation became even more challenging after Caleb Kilian was placed on the injured list with a left oblique strain.
That left Philadelphia with very little relief depth. Chase Shugart, who had thrown 39 pitches just two days earlier, was brought back from Triple-A Lehigh Valley, while Alan Rangel and Jonathan Bowlan were tasked with handling much of the remaining work.
Rangel, a 28-year-old rookie who was recalled Sunday, provided a crucial bridge out of the bullpen. He battled through 55 pitches and recorded eight outs across 2 2/3 innings. Although he ultimately allowed three earned runs on six hits, his ability to absorb nearly three innings prevented the Phillies from putting even more pressure on their already exhausted relievers.
Bowlan then took over for the ninth and completed the job, recording the first save of his Major League career. Philadelphia’s bullpen situation was so thin that Mattingly joked that catcher Garrett Stubbs could have been called upon to pitch if the game had gone to extra innings.
The Phillies also received enough offensive production to withstand St. Louis’ late push. Their offense got on the board early in the second inning, with the Cardinals helping Philadelphia create the opening. Derek Hill hit a routine chopper back toward Cardinals starter Hunter Dobbins, but Dobbins’ errant throw to first base turned the play into a scoring opportunity. Brandon Marsh raced all the way around from first to score, while Hill advanced to third.
Kyle Schwarber was one of Philadelphia’s biggest offensive catalysts. He reached base safely four times, scored a run in the fifth inning and delivered a key RBI double in the seventh. His ability to repeatedly get on base helped keep pressure on the Cardinals throughout the game.
Edmundo Sosa also played a major role against his former organization. The former Cardinal reached base three times and drove in three runs, highlighted by a two-run double in the eighth inning that gave Philadelphia additional breathing room.
For Sosa, returning to Busch Stadium carried personal significance. The Cardinals played a major role in his development as a player, making his productive performance against his former club particularly memorable.
While Painter’s outing understandably received most of the attention, Philadelphia’s victory was ultimately a team effort. The Phillies received a badly needed deep start from their young pitcher, timely hitting from Schwarber and Sosa, and crucial bullpen innings from Rangel and Bowlan.
The victory also provided Philadelphia with a much-needed reprieve after a grueling stretch that had placed considerable strain on its pitching staff. Painter’s ability to work into the sixth inning prevented the bullpen from being stretched even further, while Rangel and Bowlan helped finish a game that could easily have slipped away late.
For a Phillies club with postseason ambitions, Monday’s win was about more than simply improving the record. It demonstrated the importance of getting quality innings from Painter and finding unexpected contributors when the pitching staff is stretched thin. If the Phillies can continue receiving performances like this from their young right-hander, Painter could become increasingly important to the team’s plans for the remainder of the season.
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