Tatis, Hosmer solve Wacha as Padres beat Cards

[June 29, 2019]  Fernando Tatis Jr. and Eric Hosmer hit back-to-back homers off Michael Wacha in the sixth inning Friday night to power the host San Diego Padres to a 3-1 win over the visiting St. Louis Cardinals at Petco Park.

The home runs erased a 1-0 Cardinals lead that came on a fourth-inning run that erased a season-worst streak of 19 straight scoreless innings by St. Louis.

Tatis went the opposite way on his game-tying, 10th homer of the season, a 375-foot drive to right. The 20-year-old shortstop became the first Padre ever to hit 10 homers before his 21st birthday.

Hosmer followed with a 419-foot drive to center on a 2-1 offering from Wacha. It was Hosmer's 13th homer of the season and the Padres' 11th in their past three games.

Hosmer also drove in the Padres' third run in the eighth with a grounder back to relief pitcher Giovanny Gallegos. Wil Myers had doubled with one out and moved to third on a wild pitch.

Wacha (5-4) took the loss despite allowing only the two runs on six hits and a walk with two strikeouts over seven innings. He also drove in the Cardinals' only run with an infield single via an appeal of an umpire's call.

With Yadier Molina on third with two outs in the fourth, Wacha hit a grounder that Tatis fielded behind second. Wacha was originally called out at first, but a review show he beat the throw.

Cardinals starting pitcher Michael Wacha (52) pitches against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Padres starter Eric Lauer needed 98 pitches to negotiate four innings. He gave up one run on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts.

Cal Quantrill (2-2) allowed a hit and a walk with two strikeouts in two scoreless innings to get the win. Kirby Yates got four outs to record his 27th save.

Left fielder Marcell Ozuna, the Cardinals' leading run producer with 20 homers and 62 RBIs, departed the game in the third inning with an unspecified injury to the third and fourth fingers of his right hand. Ozuna, who was injured diving back into first while being picked off by Lauer, will have a further examination Saturday.

Left fielder Hunter Renfroe was a late scratch from the Padres' starting lineup due to a stomach issue.

--Field Level Media

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