SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Padres continued their winning streak, securing their sixth consecutive victory with a 4-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night. Nick Pivetta delivered a stellar performance on the mound, allowing just one hit and one run across seven innings.
Pivetta's Pitching Prowess
Pivetta (11-3) showcased his dominance, striking out five Cardinals batters without issuing a single walk. The only blemish on his record was a solo home run by Willson Contreras in the fifth inning, briefly giving the Cardinals a 1-0 lead. However, the Padres quickly responded.
Padres Capitalize on Cardinals' Errors
The Padres answered back with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, largely thanks to two costly errors by the Cardinals defense. With Jake Cronenworth on first and one out, Jose Iglesias hit a slow grounder to third baseman Nolan Gorman. Gorman's errant throw sailed past first baseman Contreras' glove, allowing Cronenworth to advance to third. Contreras' subsequent throw to Gorman also went awry, allowing Cronenworth to score.
Elias Díaz followed with a single, driving in Iglesias. Later in the inning, Jackson Merrill delivered a crucial two-out single up the middle against Matt Svanson, extending the Padres' lead.
Suarez Seals the Deal
Robert Suarez closed out the game in dominant fashion, securing his major league-leading 31st save with a scoreless ninth inning.
Trade Deadline Acquisition Makes Debut
Padres reliever Mason Miller, acquired from the Athletics at the trade deadline, made his highly anticipated debut in the eighth inning. Miller received a thunderous ovation from the sold-out Petco Park crowd. He quickly induced a double play to escape the inning unscathed, further solidifying the Padres' victory.
Cardinals Struggle to Score
The Cardinals have struggled recently, losing five of their last six games. In those five losses, St. Louis has managed to score a combined total of just four runs.
Looking Ahead
The Cardinals will look to bounce back in game two of the series on Saturday night, with RHP Michael McGreevy (2-2, 4.91 ERA) taking the mound against Padres’ RHP Randy Vásquez (3-4, 3.65).
The Padres, bolstered by their recent acquisitions and strong pitching, aim to continue their winning ways and solidify their position in the National League playoff race.