ST. LOUIS (AP) - Austin Hedges loves the depth of San Diego’s lineup.
Hedges and Manny Machado each hit a two-run homer off Andrew Miller in the eighth inning, helping the Padres beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-4 on Saturday for their third consecutive win.
“Our one through three hitters the last couple years are hitting six through eight,” Hedges said. “It gives us a lot of confidence that no matter who’s coming up, it might be someone else’s day that day.”
Fernando Tatis Jr. opened the eighth with a walk and Hedges, the eighth-place hitter, followed with a go-ahead drive over the wall on in left.
“I just got a fastball out over which is what I was trying to do,” Hedges said. “He’s got such a nasty slider that’s going to get to the back foot. I chased one early but I made an adjustment and stuck to my approach and got my mistake.”
San Diego also caught a break when St. Louis first baseman Paul Goldschmidt dropped Ian Kinsler’s foul popup for an error. Kinsler then walked.
After Eric Hosmer flied out, Machado made it 6-3 with his second homer of the season.
It was the first time that Miller (0-1) allowed multiple homers in a game since Sept. 22, 2015, for the New York Yankees at Toronto.
“The free passes are killing me,” Miller said. “I felt like I made an adjustment coming into to do something today and didn’t see the results I wanted, so keep working at it.”
Matt Wisler (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the win in his first outing with the Padres. Kirby Yates worked the ninth for his fifth save in five chances.
“Everyone wants to come in and help the team win,” Wisler said. “To be able to do that in the first game is obviously a great first step.”
Marcell Ozuna hit a long two-run homer for St. Louis, and Kolten Wong also drove in a run. Michael Wacha allowed one run and three hits in 5 2/3 innings, but issued a career-high eight walks and threw 119 pitches, matching his career high from his lone complete game at the New York Mets on July 18, 2017.
“You’re talking about a warrior today,” Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said about Wacha. “Just getting after it and making a lot of quality pitches and making quality pitches when he needed to. Rode him a little bit longer than maybe would’ve like to have but he’s that kind of guy you can do it with.”
San Diego rookie Chris Paddack lasted just 3 2/3 innings in his second career start. He allowed one run and one hit, struck out four and walked four.
The game was tied at 1 before Ozuna connected against Robert Stock in the fifth, sending a massive drive into the third deck in left field for his first homer of the season.
Hosmer led off the San Diego seventh with his first homer of the season, trimming the Cardinals’ lead to 3-2.
HOME AWAY FROM HOME
The Padres have won four consecutive games in St. Louis for the first time since Busch Stadium III opened in 1996. San Diego had not won four straight in St. Louis since taking five in a row from 1991-1992.
MOVING ON UP
St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina singled in the ninth for his 1,854th career hit, moving him past Curt Flood for ninth on the franchise list.
MEMPHIS BOUND
Following Saturday’s loss, Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak confirmed the club planned to option right-hander Alex Reyes to Triple-A Memphis. Reyes is 0-1 with a 15.00 ERA and six walks in four appearances.
TRAINER’S TABLE
Padres: CF Franchy Cordero left in the fifth inning after aggravating his sore right elbow on a swing in the third inning. Manager Andy Green said he removed Cordero mostly as a precaution and did not have any more information on his status.
Cardinals: RHP Luke Gregerson remains on a rehabilitation assignment with Single-A Palm Beach. He is coming back from a right shoulder impingement.
UP NEXT
Padres: LHP Matt Strahm (0-1, 16.88 ERA) will make his first road start of the season on Sunday. He has not allowed an earned run in two career appearances against the Cardinals.
Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright (0-0, 9.00) is 6-4 in 11 career starts against the Padres.
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