9 Padres pitchers blank Cards in decisive Game 3

[October 03, 2020]  Nine Padres pitchers combined on a four-hit shutout while outdueling Cardinals ace Jack Flaherty, and San Diego defeated visiting St. Louis 4-0 on Friday in the decisive third game of a National League wild-card series.

Eric Hosmer drove in runs with a double and bases-loaded walk and Jake Cronenworth hit a solo homer as the Padres won their second consecutive game after losing the opener in the best-of-three series.

San Diego will open the NL Division Series against the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas. The Padres finished second in the division.

As planned, the Padres went with a "bullpen day" in the decisive third game because starters Dinelson Lamet and Mike Clevinger were forced to miss at least the opening round of the playoffs due to injuries.

Right-handed reliever Craig Stammen opened the game and allowed one hit in 1 2/3 innings. He was followed by Tim Hill (one inning), Pierce Johnson (one-third of an inning), Adrian Morejon (1 2/3 innings), Austin Adams (one-third of an inning), Luis Patino (one inning), Emilio Pagan (one inning), Drew Pomeranz (one inning) and Trevor Rosenthal (one inning).

Adams (1-0) was the winning pitcher after fanning the only batter he faced, and Rosenthal struck out the side in the ninth.

Johnson, Pagan, Pomeranz and Rosenthal appeared in all three games.

In addition to the four hits, Padres pitchers issued three walks while striking out eight. It was the first time in postseason history that nine pitchers combined on a shutout.

San Diego Padres center fielder Trent Grisham (left) reacts after striking out with the bases loaded to end the second inning as St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina (right) looks on at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Hosmer doubled home Fernando Tatis Jr. with two outs in the fifth to end a scoreless tie. Tatis lined a double inside the third base bag with one out. After Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong made an over-the-shoulder catch in short right to deny Manny Machado a hit, Hosmer drove a Flaherty fastball the opposite way to left.

Flaherty (0-1) took the loss despite allowing only one run on six hits and two walks with eight strikeouts in six innings.

The Padres added two runs in the seventh. A fielder's choice grounder from Machado that resulted in an error on Cardinals third baseman Tommy Edman brought home one run, and Hosmer's bases-loaded walk increased the lead to 3-0.

Cronenworth hit an Alex Reyes sinker for a solo homer with two outs in the eighth.

Cronenworth finished with three hits while Mitch Moreland added two hits for San Diego.

--Field Level Media

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