Cardinals get more relief than expected

PHILADELPHIA -- St. Louis manager Tony La Russa expected a high-scoring game where the bullpens would get stretched thin.\nInstead, the Cardinals' relievers kept it under control.\nHector Luna's three-run homer capped a five-run first inning and the Cardinals got three scoreless innings from five relievers for a 7-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.\n"It looked like it would be a 12-10 game," La Russa said. "Our bullpen had a great series. This is a tough park to pitch."\nThe Cardinals quickly ended Randy Wolf's 21-inning scoreless streak and improved to 9-3 on the road.\nIt's their best road start since they were 10-2 in 1946. They won the three-game series thanks to nine scoreless innings overall from the bullpen.\nJeff Suppan (3-3) pitched six shaky innings, allowing six hits and four runs. But the Cardinals got a break in the first inning on an error and another misplayed ball which helped score four unearned runs.\nJason Isringhausen got four outs for his fourth save. He came in the eighth with runners on first and second and two out, and got pinch-hitter Jason Michaels to strike out looking.\nAfter an error by second baseman Placido Polanco, Wolf gave up two straight singles. Scott Rolen got the second hit up the middle when Polanco and shortstop Tomas Perez collided behind second base.\nEdgar Renteria followed with bloop single to right to make it 2-0 and, after the second out, Luna hit the three-run shot to left.\nPhiladelphia had their chances against Suppan, loading the bases with one out in the third. Perez grounded to short to score a run and beat the relay throw to first. But Todd Pratt struck out to end the rally.