Coverage of today's Cards and Padres game can be heard on Newstalk 97.3 WTIM beginning at 8:35pm.
San Diego, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Yangervis Solarte smacked a solo homer and
scored two runs as the San Diego Padres topped the St. Louis Cardinals, 3-1,
in the opener of a three-game set.
Tyson Ross (10-10) struck out seven and allowed a run on four hits and five
walks over six innings for the Padres, who snapped a three-game losing streak.
"He's been so good over the past couple months, especially this month. When
something like this happens with the five walks, it's a little bit
exasperating because he's been so good," Padres manager Bud Black said of
Ross.
Lance Lynn (11-8) surrendered two runs -- one earned -- on four hits and three
walks with six strikeouts over six frames for St. Louis, which has dropped
five of its last seven games.
The game was tied 1-1 before the Padres plated a run in the sixth and seventh
innings to go ahead.
Solarte and Seth Smith worked walks in the sixth before Will Venable popped up
on a bunt attempt and Yonder Alonso flied out. Jedd Gyorko, though, came
through with two outs when he lined a single to left to bring home Solarte.
Solarte ripped his solo shot down the right-field line with two outs in the
seventh to extend the Padres' margin to 3-1.
Kevin Quackenbush tossed a scoreless eighth and Joaquin Benoit blanked the
Cardinals in the ninth to notch his third save of the season.
Earlier, Alexi Amarista's sacrifice fly in the third inning opened the
scoring, but St. Louis got the run back in the fifth.
Lynn singled and Matt Carpenter doubled before a Kolten Wong sacrifice fly
scored Lynn. Matt Holliday then bounced one right to Solarte, who was playing
in at third, and he came home with the throw to nab Carpenter and keep the
game tied at 1-1.
Game Notes
The Padres were 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position, while St. Louis
finished 0-for-7 and left 10 men on base ... Solarte's homer was his second as
a Padre and sixth of the season.