A riveting, scoreless duel set to be decided by a single pitch came unraveled, fast and messy, on the Cardinals in the ninth inning when so many pitches went so, so awry.
Escorted by two walks and a hit batter to their first playoff rally in 11 years, the Phillies scored six runs against a Cardinals team that had a difficult time regaining its balance. Two outs away from winning Game 1 of the National League Wild Card, the Cardinals suddenly, almost inexplicably are on the brink of elimination after losing 6-3 to the Phillies on Friday afternoon at Busch Stadium.