The Philadelphia Phillies gutted out a 7-6 walk-off win over the St. Louis Cardinals in ten innings at Citizens Bank Park on Friday, August 21, 2026. Down two runs at some point in the game, the Phillies clawed back, forced extra innings, and finished it off in the tenth to take the series opener. Alec Bohm drove in three runs, J.T. Realmuto added two more, and Alex McFarlane earned the win with a clean tenth inning. It was the kind of ugly, grinding, deeply satisfying victory that this ballpark was built for.

Phillies Walk Off Cardinals 7-6 in Ten Innings at Citizens Bank Park

Jesús Luzardo was not sharp, but he was good enough. The left-hander went 5.2 innings, striking out nine Cardinals while allowing four earned runs on six hits and a walk. That strikeout total is the number to hold onto — nine punchouts in fewer than six innings is legitimate stuff — but St. Louis tagged him for enough damage to build a lead. Jordan Walker did most of the Cardinals' offensive damage, going 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBI. Joshua Báez also went deep, adding another two-run shot that gave St. Louis real separation at some point in the ballgame.

Bohm, Realmuto Carry the Phillies Offense

Alec Bohm was the engine of the Phillies' comeback. He went 3-for-5 with three RBI — every hit feeling purposeful when Philadelphia needed runs. J.T. Realmuto was right there with him, going 2-for-3 with two RBI. Realmuto never gets enough credit for this kind of steady, professional performance: no home run in the box score, just quality at-bats and runs produced when they matter. Brandon Marsh added a 2-for-3 night with an RBI of his own. Luis Arraez rounded out a productive lineup with three hits in five at-bats, doing what Arraez does — putting the ball in play and making life difficult for opposing pitchers.

Bullpen Holds the Line to Set Up the Walk-Off

After Luzardo exited, manager Rob Thomson turned to a parade of relievers who, collectively, did the job. Tim Mayza bridged 0.2 innings, allowing two hits but no runs. Orion Kerkering covered 1.1 innings with one strikeout and zero earned runs. Brooks Raley worked a third of an inning. Then Jhoan Duran — whose presence in a Phillies uniform still feels significant — struck out two in a clean inning of work, keeping the game within reach. That set the stage for Alex McFarlane, who threw a scoreless tenth to earn the win when Philadelphia pushed across the deciding run against Cardinals reliever Luis Gastelum.

Turning Point: The Tenth Inning

The Phillies entered the tenth with the automatic runner in scoring position, the way extra-inning baseball works now. Philadelphia manufactured the walk-off run against Gastelum, who allowed two hits and an earned run in his inning of work. McFarlane retired the Cardinals in order in the top half, then watched his teammates finish it. It was a fitting end to a game that required a two-run comeback — this was not a comfortable wire-to-wire win, and the Phillies earned every run.

What's Next for the Phillies

  • The Phillies and Cardinals continue their series at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday.
  • Philadelphia's bullpen was used heavily Friday night — six pitchers covered 4.1 innings — which could factor into Saturday's roster decisions.
  • Luzardo's nine strikeouts were an encouraging sign even in a rough outing; the walks and contact he allowed will be something to watch as the season progresses.
  • Bohm's three-RBI performance gives the lineup a clear pillar heading into the next game.