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 Right-handed starter Michael Wacha allowed one run on five hits and
two walks with three strikeouts in six innings to improve to 15-5
while lowering his earned run average to 2.80.
He is now tied for the National League lead in wins and ranks 10th
in ERA.
Right fielder Jason Heyward was 3-for-4 with a double, a triple, a
RBI and two runs scored for the Cardinals (78-45), who still have
the best record in the majors despite their struggles in San Diego.
Colin Rea allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits and two walks
with four strikeouts while throwing 94 pitches over four innings in
his third major league start.
"I wasn't efficient today," said Rea. "I have to learn to get early
contact to minimize pitches."
After being guilty of some sloppy play in two losses to open the
series, the Cardinals took advantage of several Padres miscues in
the first inning to build a quick 4-0 lead.
Center fielder Tommy Pham drew a one-out walk and raced to third
when Rea threw wildly on a pick-off attempt.
With Pham at third, Cardinals shortstop Jhonny Peralta hit a soft
liner over the bag that Padres third baseman Yangervis Solarte
attempted to catch while getting to third for a possible
inning-ending double play.
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But the ball skipped off the top of Solarte's glove for an error
that allowed Pham to score and Peralta to reach base.
Heyward singled Peralta to third and stole second. Catcher Yadier
Molina then singled, scoring Peralta before Piscotty followed with a
two-run triple.
"I think the defensive miscues in the first made it tough for him,"
Padres manager Pat Murphy said of Rea.
"He didn't have his best stuff. The errors made him vulnerable."
(Compiled by Greg Stutchbury)
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reserved.]
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