Cardinals 8 Phillies 3: Catcher Yadier Molina hit a first-inning grand slam and Adam Wainwright pitched six strong innings as host St. Louis avoided a four-game sweep.

Wainwright (4-5) delivered his second straight superb performance, allowing one run on seven hits, in his comeback from Tommy John surgery.

Molina’s blast off Roy Halladay (4-5) ended St. Louis’ 15-inning scoreless streak. Following singles by Skip Schumaker and Matt Holliday, David Freese drew a two-out walk. Molina then drove an 0-1 pitch over the fence in right-center for his third career grand slam. Halladay left after two innings with soreness in his right shoulder.

Carlos Beltran turned on a fastball for his 15th homer, a three-run shot that made it 7-1 Cards in the fifth.

The Phillies saw their four-game win streak snapped and failed in their bid for their first four-game sweep of St. Louis since 1937.

The Cardinals won for just the sixth time in their last 17 games, and beat an NL East team at home for the first time in seven tries.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Phillies fell to 4-18 when scoring three or fewer runs. … Phillies LF Juan Pierre went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, upping his average to .314. ... Molina left in the fifth due to dehydration.