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Final Score: Philadelphia 3 - St. Louis 6

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Joe Mather smacked a three-run homer and Ryan Ludwick added two more solo round-trippers in St. Louis' 6-3 victory over Philadelphia in the opener of a three-game series at Busch Stadium.

Ludwick finished 4-for-4 with three runs scored, while Yadier Molina provided the Cardinals' other RBI.

Kyle Lohse (13-3) was effective enough to earn a win over his former club for the second time this season, going 5 1/3 innings while being tagged with three runs on five hits with three walks and six strikeouts for St. Louis, which has won four of five.

Cole Hamels (9-7), winless in his last five starts, allowed five runs -- four earned -- on eight hits to go with one walk and five strikeouts. The lefty continues to surrender the long ball, allowing a pair to up his total to 18 allowed in his last 12 outings.

Pat Burrell hit a two-run homer in the Phillies' first loss in six games.

A four-run third was all the Cardinals needed for Lohse and the bullpen. A single by Skip Schumacher and walk to Cesar Izturis preceded Mather's fifth blast of the year, a no-doubter to left.

A pair of one-out singles and a throwing error by Eric Bruntlett later in the frame set the table for Molina, who lofted a fly deep enough to left to score a run.

Ludwick made it a 5-0 game with a two-out blast to left in the fifth, but Philly managed to inch closer an inning later.

Shane Victorino and Chase Utley hit back-to-back doubles to open the inning, the latter bringing in a run. Burrell followed a Ryan Howard strikeout with his 27th homer of the year to deep left.

Ludwick again came calling in the eighth, connecting on a Ryan Madson offering for his 25th home run of the year.

Jason Isringhausen recorded the final four outs to earn his 12th save of the year and first since May 5.