The San Diego Padres avoided a sweep with a 6-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday afternoon. Jackson Merrill and Fernando Tatis Jr. delivered key hits in the late innings to secure the victory.
San Diego jumped ahead early with a run in the first inning at Busch Stadium. Manny Machado drove in the initial run on a sacrifice fly, and Xander Bogaerts added an RBI single in the fourth.
Griffin Canning allowed just one run over 4 1/3 innings, earning his first win with the Padres. Kyle Hart picked off a runner in the sixth to help preserve the lead.
Fernando Tatis Jr. contributed an RBI double after a Cardinals misplay in the fifth. In the ninth, Tatis added an RBI single and Merrill hit a two-run homer that held up after review.
Manager Craig Stammen noted the value of the early lead and the production from Merrill and Tatis. The Padres improved to continue their road trip in Texas.
