ST. LOUIS Vince Velasquez attributes his recent resurgence to something in his head, not his arm.
The Philadelphia right-hander pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning, and Carlos Santana and Pedro Florimon hit home runs in the Phillies 6-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night.
Velasquez (4-4) gave up five hits in 6 1/3 innings, struck out five and walked two in recording his third straight win.
Im just having a different mentality going into the game, Velasquez said. I feel like Im going into a comfort zone of my own. Thats something youve got to have and cherish. And build on.
Velasquez is 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA over his last three starts. He has struck out 21 over 17 1/3 innings.
The three strong outings are in stark contrast to two rough efforts on April 24 and 29 when he gave up a total of 10 earned runs over 8 1/3 innings.
Its just starting to come together for him, Philadelphia manager Gabe Kapler said. Were trying to figure out what we see in Vinnie that leads to this kind of success. I guess it doesnt really matter, as long as hes having it.
Velasquez began the season by dropping four of his first five decisions.
A lot of obstacles are thrown at you and youve just got to learn to adjust, Velasquez said. Thats the whole part of this game is making adjustments. And it seems like things are turning around.
The Phillies won for the seventh time in eight games and improved to 17-2 against opponents outside of the NL East.
At 25-16, the Phillies are nine games over .500 for the first time since they were 102-60 at the close of the 2011 season. Philadelphia is 24-12 since starting the season 1-4.
Odubel Herrera reached base three times to extend his on-base streak to 43 games, fifth-longest in franchise history. It is also the longest streak in the majors since Atlantas Freddie Freeman reached in 46 successive games in 2016.
I dont pay attention to that, Herrera said of the streak. Im just trying to play hard, get on base and do what I can do.
Herrera is 13 games shy of Mike Schmidts club record of 56 set in 1981-82.
Santana broke a scoreless tie by slugging a 437-foot drive to center his team-leading eighth in the fifth off Luke Weaver (3-3), who gave up one run and four hits over seven innings. Weaver struck out six and walked one for St. Louis, which has lost four of five.
I took a lot out of this outing, Weaver said. This is baseball, games like this happen. The other pitcher threw really well and we just had a hard time picking him up.
Aaron Altherr drove in a pair of runs with a bases-loaded single in the eighth that pushed the Phillies lead to 3-0. He snapped an 0-for-13 skid with the hit. Herreras RBI double made it 4-0.
St. Louis cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the eighth on Marcell Ozunas run-scoring fielders choice and Jedd Gyorkos RBI single.
Florimon hit a two-run homer in the ninth off reliever John Brebbia.
St. Louis catcher Francisco Pena had three of his teams 10 hits.
I was seeing the ball pretty well today, Pena said. Were trying to get a W, and we didnt do it today.
TRAINERS ROOM
Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright was shifted to the 60-day DL from the 10-day list due to persistent elbow pain. He was placed on the 10-day list Monday after a rough start Sunday in San Diego. He walked six batters in 2 1/3 innings. The three-time All-Star is 1-3 with a 4.00 ERA in four starts this season. He has walked 14 batters in 18 innings.
We just need time, St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said.
C Carson Kelly was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain. C Steven Baron was recalled from Triple-A Memphis. Baron was hitting .153.
UP NEXT
Philadelphia RHP Jake Arrieta (3-1, 2.59) will face RHP Michael Wacha (4-1, 3.09) in the second game of the four-game series Friday. Arrieta is 8-4 with a 2.27 ERA in 17 lifetime starts against St. Louis. Wacha is seeking his 50th career win.
Game time is 7:15 with the pre-game at 6:20 on KTLO-AM.
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