The Phillies matched a season-high five-game losing streak with their 3-1 loss to the Cardinals on Thursday (see game recap).
Here's a quick recap from Thursday in MLB:
Harper's homer snaps Nats' skid
WASHINGTON -- For a kid who's still only 20 and had yet to hit a game-ending homer in his nascent career, Bryce Harper sure inspired a lot of confidence in his teammates as he walked to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.
"You could feel it. You could just feel it in the dugout," reliever Ian Krol said. "You know something special's going to happen when you put him in that kind of situation."
The score was tied, a man was on base, and Harper was hoping to do something to avert what could have become a devastating defeat for the Washington Nationals. They already blew a substantial lead Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. And as it is, the Nationals were 0-6 since the All-Star break to fall way below .500 and way behind in the NL East.
Precisely as Krol and other Nationals anticipated, Harper delivered. Right in the middle of it all from the very start to the finish, the 2012 NL Rookie of the Year hit a two-run shot over the wall to the left of straightaway center, lifting Washington past Pittsburgh 9-7 for a late-July victory that felt late-season pivotal to the Nationals (see full recap).
Wheeler lifts Mets over Braves
NEW YORK -- Zack Wheeler is still learning how to harness his 95 mph heat. In the meantime, he and the Mets keep winning.
Wheeler beat the first-place Atlanta Braves for the second time in seven major league starts, and John Buck drove in three runs for New York in a 7-4 victory Thursday.
Although he had trouble throwing consistent strikes again, Wheeler (4-1) fought through a difficult first inning that included three strikeouts with runners in scoring position.
Since the day he was called up from the minors, the Mets (45-53) are 20-13 (see full recap).
Buehrle, Jays beat Astros
TORONTO -- Mark Buehrle pitched a two-hitter and the Toronto Blue Jays ended a season-worst seven-game losing streak, beating the Houston Astros 4-0 Thursday night.
The last-place Blue Jays had been 0-6 since the All-Star break, swept in consecutive series by Tampa Bay and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Toronto had dropped 14 of 18 overall.
Things were easier for Toronto against the Astros, who've won just once since July 13 and have the worst record in baseball at 34-67. Houston lost for the 18th time in 22 games.
Maicer Izturis drove in two runs as the Blue Jays won at home for the first time since July 7 (see full recap).