The San Diego Padres secured a 4-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Petco Park on Friday, capitalizing on defensive errors from St. Louis.
In the fifth inning, with Jake Cronenworth on first after a walk, Jose Iglesias hit a ground ball to third base. Nolan Gorman’s throw went awry, getting past first baseman Willson Contreras. This error allowed Cronenworth to score, leveling the game at 1-1 while Iglesias advanced to second.
Elias Diaz followed up with a single to center field, scoring Iglesias and giving the Padres a 2-1 lead. The Padres continued to capitalize on the momentum: Fernando Tatis Jr. walked, and Luis Arraez added a single, loading the bases. Manny Machado struck out for the second out, but Jackson Merrill stepped up and delivered a clutch two-run single, extending San Diego’s lead to 4-1.
Contreras had initially put the Cardinals on the board with a solo home run in the fifth, marking the team’s only run of the game. Meanwhile, Padres’ starting pitcher Nick Pivetta was impressive on the mound, holding the Cardinals to just one hit across seven innings, recording five strikeouts without issuing any walks.
Mason Miller, a new addition to the Padres roster, made his debut in the eighth inning. He faced some pressure but managed to strike out Jordan Walker and forced a ground ball double play, maintaining the Padres’ lead. Robert Suarez closed out the game in the ninth, earning the save after a solid performance.
The Padres will look to continue their success against the Cardinals in the second game of their series, scheduled for Saturday at 7:10 p.m.
This game showcased the Padres’ ability to capitalize on their opponents’ mistakes, a crucial skill in tight matchups. With their pitching staff performing well, the Padres seem poised to make a strong run in the ongoing season.