ST. LOUIS - The Phillies' six-game winning streak came to an end under the weight of five home runs by the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night.
Jeremy Hellickson surrendered three of them in a 10-3 loss at Busch Stadium.
The Phillies had a 3-0 lead in the third inning but could not protect it.
The loss dropped the Phils to 15-11 as they head into the second game of this 10-game trip on Tuesday night.
Starting pitching report
Hellickson pitched seven shutout innings against Washington in his previous start, but he could not sustain that success.
He let a 3-0 lead get away when he allowed a three-run homer to his counterpart, Adam Wainwright, with two outs in the fourth inning. Wainwright crushed a 3-1 pitch into the second deck in left.
Hellickson gave up back-to-back solo shots in the sixth.
Hellickson has allowed seven home runs in 31 1/3 innings. He is 2-2 with a 4.88 ERA in six starts.
Cardinals starter Wainwright gave up just three runs over six innings for his second win of the season. He helped himself with a three-run home run in the fourth inning.
Bullpen report
Brett Oberholtzer gave up four runs in 2 2/3 innings. He allowed back-to-back homers in the seventh. He has given up eight homers in 14 innings.
The Cardinals' bullpen pitched scoreless ball.
At the plate
The Phillies scored three times in the third inning to take a 3-0 lead. Freddy Galvis singled home two runs and Maikel Franco had a sacrifice fly.
Carlos Ruiz had three hits for the Phillies.
Cardinals pitcher Wainwright had his second straight three-RBI game. He had an RBI triple in his previous start.
Matt Adams, Aledmys Diaz, Kolten Wong and Randal Grichuk also homered for the Cardinals, who snapped a four-game losing streak.
The Cardinals out-hit the Phillies, 14-8.
Health check
A month into the season, Cody Asche remains in Clearwater, rehabbing an oblique injury. There is no timetable for his return to action.
"He's a ways away," manager Pete Mackanin said.
Asche is swinging a bat but has not progressed to taking batting practice yet.
"With that type of injury, one swing can set you back a month," Mackanin said.
That has already happened once with Asche. He suffered the initial injury early in spring training and had a setback late in camp, so he and the club are being very cautious.
Up next
The series continues Tuesday night with Aaron Nola (1-2, 3.55) pitching against Cardinals right-hander Michael Wacha (2-1, 3.07).
