It’s been a rough season for Cashner (4-12) who allowed four earned runs and seven hits in five innings in a no-decision at Colorado last Saturday. But he relieved starter Andrew Cashner and promptly gave up a double to first baseman Mark Reynolds and a triple to center fielder Tommy Pham before being lifted.
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The St. Louis Cardinals committed three errors behind John Lackey in the fifth inning Friday night en route to a 9-3 loss.
Beniot is likely the more important piece for San Diego’s future, as despite the Padres’ rough season he has continued to be one of the best late-inning relievers in baseball.
Matt Kemp, extending his hitting streak to 14 games, singled home two runs to start the onslaught. Kennedy struck out Carpenter and Piscotty to end the inning. On July 3rd he pitched at Busch Stadium, keeping the Cards to only one run on three hits and three walks through six innings of work.
NL-leading St. Louis (77-43) begins a 10-game West Coast trip having won 10 of 14 and surrendered only six runs in taking two of three from San Francisco.
Lackey (10-7) picked up his 10th win with a solid 8 1/3 inning performance against Miami last Saturday to reach double digits in victories for the 12th straight time.
San Diego then sent 12 men to the plate in the bottom of the inning, keyed by Kemp’s two-run, bases-loaded single and Upton’s two-run double, both off reliever Seth Maness, that made it 5-0.
Carpenter was ejected by home plate umpire Chris Segal for arguing after being called out on strikes.
RHP Brandon Morrow had his season-ending shoulder surgery on Wednesday and assistant general manager Josh Stein said the operation went smoothly.
Pitcher Ian Kennedy sacrificed Spangenberg to second as Martinez fielded the ball quickly and got Kennedy at first as again Norris stayed put. But Stephen Piscotty took a third strike and the game remained scoreless. The San Diego Padres righthander struck out five of the first eight Cardinals to face him before his opposite, Carlos Martinez, shot a third-inning double to right for the first extra-base hit of Martinez’s career. But he does have three career starts against the Padres under his belt. The Cardinals will throw two more right-handed pitchers in this series.
Molina finished 3 for 4 with two RBIs in his first game hitting cleanup this season. It’s a grind. This being my first full season of playing every single game, I think that’s definitely taken a toll on me a little. The total sits at 6.5 for tonight’s game.
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“He continues to do things that make us get on our feet”, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said.
