It was reaffirmed to the Cardinals this week what the rest of the National League has known for more than two seasons now. They aren’t as good as the Phillies, the two-time league champions gunning to be the first team to win three NL titles in a row since the 1942-44 Cardinals.

After taking the first game of the four-game series, St. Louis was held to a combined three runs in the last three games. In recent years, the Phillies have just pounded on the Cardinals. Philadelphia beat St. Louis in five of nine meetings in 2008, winning once 20-2. Last year, the Phils outscored the Cardinals 40-24, capturing four of five games.

This year, it’s all about the Phillies’ pitching. Right-hander Roy Halladay, when pressed to make a pitch, made one Thursday, notably to Matt Holliday.

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