Philadelphia Phillies' Shane Victorino hits a pinch-hit, three-run double during the eighth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals today in St. Louis. The hit broke a tie and hit helped lift the Phillies to a 5-1 victory. JEFF ROBERSON | Associated Press

Brian Sanches (1-0) pitched two near-pefect innings in his third appearance of the season. His only blemish was a one-out walk to Chris Duncan in the seventh but Duncan was caught stealing one out later to end the inning.

Brad Thompson (5-3) pitched a perfect seventh in relief before allowing two hits and intentionally walking Ryan Howard to load the bases in the eighth. Randy Flores came in relief and gave up Victorino's first pinch-hit of the season. Flores has allowed 12 of 19 inherited base runners to score this season.

Victorino is a Baldwin High alum from Maui.

The Cardinals loaded the bases against Antonio Alfonseca in the ninth, but So Taguchi grounded out to end the game.

Cardinals starter Kip Wells returned to the mound following an 1-hour, 36-minute rain delay before the bottom of the fourth. in search of his first victory as a starter in a month. Scratched before his last scheduled start on Tuesday in favor of Thompson, Wells pitched the final two innings of a 14-inning victory against Kansas City on Wednesday.

Against the Phillies nearly made it through the five innings without giving up a run. Wells walked Carlos Ruiz to start the fifth and got the next two batters out before a wild pitch and Michael Bourn's single brought Ruiz in to tie the score at 1-1. Bourn also drove in a run in the ninth.

Cole Hamels started for Philadelphia and did not come back after the delay. He pitched three innings and gave up three hits, one earned run and struck out three.