The Phillies beat the Cardinals 6-3 in the wild-card game.

The Phillies beat the Cardinals 6-3 in the wild-card game.

ST. LOUIS, MO. The Phillies upset the NL Central champion Cardinals 6-3 in the first game of their National League wild-card series on Friday, scoring six runs in the ninth inning against the tough St. Louis bullpen, highlighted by a bases-loaded single by Jean Segura.

After Juan Yepez connected for the first go-ahead pinch-hit homer in team history with two outs in the seventh inning, the Cardinals, who were 74-3 when leading after eight innings this season, seemed ready to put away another close game.

The Phillies finally got their formidable offense going against Ryan Helsley after laboring all day against José Quintana and the St. Louis bullpen. JT Realmuto singled to start the ninth-inning comeback, and walks by Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos loaded the bases before the All-Star closer struck out Alec Bohm to score a run.

The Cardinals' training staff came out to check on Helsley, who had hurt his throwing hand's middle finger earlier in the week in Pittsburgh. He attempted another warmup pitch before being replaced by Andre Pallante, who gave up Segura's hit through the right side of the infield that put Philadelphia ahead.

Edmundo Sosa scored boldly on Bryce Stott's grounder to first base, and Brandon Marsh brought in another run with a strong hop that went past Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong.

Phillies reliever Zach Eflin had plenty of wiggle room in the ninth inning by the time Kyle Schwarber delivered a sacrifice fly.

When Nolan Arenado and Dylan Carlson reached base and Nolan Gorman hit a two-out single to right, it appeared like Eflin could need it as well. But Eflin replied by striking out Yadier Molina to conclude the game, sending Philadelphia into the divisional round against NL East winner Atlanta.

Before the game, there was a nostalgic wind blowing around Busch Stadium. If the flag-waving Cardinals supporters crowded into every nook and cranny had closed their eyes during introductions, they may have assumed they were witnessing a game from a century ago.

After all, several recognizable characters were in the lineup from the previous postseason meeting between St. Louis and Philadelphia.

On this day 11 years ago, the Cardinals defeated the Phillies in a spectacular pitchers' battle between Chris Carpenter and Roy Halladay in Game 5 of the National League Division Series. Molina and Albert Pujols were on the field for St. Louis that night, while former ace Adam Wainwright, who was pitching out of the bullpen this season, was also present to celebrate.

Pitching controlled the majority of Friday's series opener, just as it did the previous night in Philadelphia.

Quintana, acquired in a deadline deal from Pittsburgh, pitched into the sixth inning for the Cardinals, allowing only a single to Matt Vierling and a double to Bohm. After fanning Schwarber for the second time on his 75th pitch, he was done for the day, giving the ball over to a bullpen corps that had been downright dominating this season.

Zack Wheeler matched Quintana's performance, allowing a leadoff single to Lars Nootbaar and then nothing else until Tommy Edman's leadoff single in the sixth. Paul Goldschmidt grounded out, leaving Edman stranded at third.

Wheeler left after retiring Arenado to begin the seventh inning. On 96 pitches, he struck out four and walked one, his most since Aug. 20, just before being placed on the disabled list with forearm tendonitis.

Then it came down to the bullpens, where the Phillies defeated one of the finest in the game.

COMING UP

On Saturday night, the Phillies will send right-hander Aaron Nola (11-13, 3.25 ERA) to the mound in an attempt to complete the wild-card sweep. He was outstanding versus Houston in sealing Philadelphia's wild-card playoff position.

To force a decisive Game 3, the Cardinals will look to right-hander Miles Mikolas (12-13, 3.29 ERA). Mikolas struggled in a bullpen session in Pittsburgh, but has only allowed one earned run in his last two outings.