ST. LOUIS – There were 36,112 spectators at the Bush Stadium during Sunday afternoon’s match between the Filipinos and St. Louis Cardinals.

Among them were dozens of family members and friends of Matt Weirling, a field player who grew up in the area.

“Thirty,” he said. There were others scattered around the stadium from high school and stuff.

Weirling wanted to do a good show for the home crowd. And he did. In the fourth round, the RBI had a single. But he wanted more. That’s why the defeat of the bottom of the eighth inning and Phyllis’s 4-3 defeat to the cards created a little more.

Pinch runner Dylan Carlson scored the third goal of the game through Tommy Edman’s midfield, and the Cardinals pushed the run to the bottom of the eighth.

Virling’s shot from the center was powerful and aimed.

Carlson crossed the plate on foot — first slide and was first summoned by Home Targist Judge Tod Tichenor. However, the call was rejected by the cardinals.

Virling saw the bad news instantly on the video board above the midfield.

“I saw him put his hand in there,” he said. “I really wanted that. I really did. It’s a hard pill to swallow. Man, that’s hard.”

The defeat led to a three-game winning streak for the Filipinos, who still dominate the third and final NL wild card position with the Cardinals.

The Philes have won their first two games in four consecutive games, both by closing, and on Monday night they want to win the series behind Aaron Nola.

Weirling, 25, grew up as a cardinal fan and, like any other old man, made Albert Pujoles an idol.

Pujles, now a part-time player, started Sunday. The 684th had three shots, including Homer, and started the march on the eighth.

“It’s very special to compete with him,” said Weirling, who posed for a photo with Puigles in Philadelphia last week. “He’s still doing it and it’s amazing.”

The eighth strike by Pujles came on the third time in four days against Felix Bulpen’s Seranton Domingigez, who was fighting for his place. Dominges has allowed two trips and his first walk since May 21. Before Edman’s first flight, Paul Goldsmith went 17 yards out to climb one of the four fields to lay the groundwork.

In the middle of the inning, the Felix controlled the game. Kyle Schwabber gave them a 3-1 lead in the 28th Homer. Christopher Sánchez handed Homer to Jougos in the sixth and Austin Romney, who was converted in the seventh. The Cards took the lead in the eighth round of the playoffs.

“It’s a great throw in Weirling,” said manager Rob Thomson.

“We’ve had some very close games with these guys up to the wire,” Virling said.

One more Monday night. This season the films are 4-2 on the cards.

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