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 That Lynn helped contribute to a 3-1 win over the San Diego Padres
on Sunday with his bat, however, was another step in his progression
as a complete pitcher.
Lynn started both run-scoring rallies for St. Louis, singling ahead
of a two-run homer by center fielder Tommy Pham in the third and
then rapping a ground-rule double in the fifth to set up Pham's RBI
double.
Once considered one of the worst-hitting pitchers around, Lynn is
6-for-26 this year for a more-than-respectable .231 average. His
4-for-60 (.067) showing last year was actually an improvement on his
career mark of .065 going into this season, which included 101
strikeouts in 168 at-bats.
"I'm just trying to get on and be a table-setter," Lynn joked.
Lynn nearly matched San Diego's hit total, controlling the Padres
(39-45) with his fastball over seven innings. He allowed only three
hits and an unearned run while walking three and fanning eight.
San Diego's lone run was somewhat of a gift from Lynn. In the third
inning, he issued a two-out walk to third baseman Yangervis Solarte
and then made a throwing error on a pickoff attempt ahead of an RBI
single by right fielder Matt Kemp.
"He was a one-man show out there," Padres interim manager Pat Murphy
said of Lynn.
However, even one-man shows need help, and that is where Pham came
into the equation. Called up from Triple-A Memphis on Friday, the
rookie keyed the offense for a second consecutive game.
After scoring both runs Saturday in a 2-1 win that snapped the
Cardinals' four-game losing streak, Pham knocked in all three
Sunday. His first major league homer, a liner off an 0-1 changeup
from Ian Kennedy, barely made it over the left field wall.
Pham wasn't aware that his ball cleared the fence, believing the
signage behind the wall was in play. Only after seeing third base
umpire Hunter Wendelstedt twirl his index finger in the air -- the
signal for a homer -- did Pham complete his trot.
Two innings later, Pham barely missed a second homer as his majestic
drive on a hanging 1-2 changeup struck the wall in left-center.
"I'm just trying to get a good pitch to hit," Pham said. "It's the
same as any other game."
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The unlikely 1-2 punch of Lynn and Pham, along with a lack of
offensive support, doomed Kennedy. The right-hander gave up seven
hits and three runs over six innings for a quality start. He walked
none and struck out four.
Kennedy (4-8) has thrown well at times this year but has had trouble
keeping the ball in the park, allowing 18 homers in 80 innings.
"I felt like I commanded my pitches," he said. "I thought I threw a
good changeup down to Pham (on the homer), and he went down and got
it. We're all up here trying to make adjustments, and we haven't
seen much of him."
With closer Trevor Rosenthal unavailable after working in three
games in a row and five of the past six, Kevin Siegrist pitched the
ninth for his fourth save as the Cardinals (53-28) improved to 31-11
at home and maintained a six-game lead over Pittsburgh in the
National League Central.
"We had a rough stretch there," manager Mike Matheny said of St.
Louis' first four-game losing streak that ended Saturday. "Today was
a good game."
NOTES: St. Louis LHP Marco Gonzales threw live batting practice
Sunday morning at the team's spring training camp in Jupiter, Fla.,
and he could start a rehab assignment later this week. Gonzales has
been hampered this year by shoulder and left pectoral injuries. ...
San Diego starters have 52 quality starts in 84 games, more than any
team in baseball except for the Cardinals (55 in 81). ... St. Louis
RHP Jordan Walden plans to throw a bullpen session Monday before the
team opens a four-game series at the Chicago Cubs. Walden has been
sidelined since April 30 due to a right biceps injury.
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