ST. LOUIS — Tommy Edman has something in common with Albert Pujols.
Edman hit a two-run homer off Josh Hader in the ninth for his second walk-off hit in two days off the All-Star closer, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat San Diego 5-4 on Wednesday.
“He’s just got such a good fastball,” Edman said. “Just trying to stay as short as I possibly could and got to try to stay on top of it, just because that fastball is pretty explosive. So, it’s trying to not do too much and it’s fun when you accidentally hit a homer.”
Edman became the first Cardinals player with consecutive walk-off RBIs since Pujols against the Chicago Cubs on June 4-5, 2011.
“The best part is just seeing your teammates surrounding home as you’re rounding third base,” Edman said. “And just the feeling of being able to come through for your guys. We fought all day.”
St. Louis trailed 4-3 before Masyn Winn doubled off Hader (0-3) with two outs in the ninth and Edman sliced a sinker to the opposite field and into the Cardinals bullpen behind the right-field wall. Edman’s 10th-inning single on Tuesday night gave St. Louis a 6-5 win.
“Yesterday he got me on an inside fastball that was in on his hands, and I went up and away (today) and he got me on that on,” Hader said.
Edman also became the first Cardinals player with three stolen bases since Harrison Bader on April 23 last year. Edman has 20 this season.
“He can beat you in a lot of different ways,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “Obviously, we know he plays an elite defense no matter where you put him. … He’s a pretty complete player if you ask me.”
Rookie Jordan Walker had his first big league four-hit game, including his 12th homer, a tying, three-run drive in the fourth against Rich Hill. At 21 years and 100 days old, Walker became the youngest Cardinals player with a four-hit game since Ken Reitz at 21 years, 76 days against the New York Mets on Sept. 8, 1972.
“I go up there looking for something and I feel like I was just, you know, more decisive on what I wanted to hit,” Walker said. “And when they threw it, I was actually ready for it instead of being in between pitches.”
Walker’s bat actually had five hits as Winn borrowed it for his game-extending double against Hader in the ninth.
“I was struggling a little bit,” Winn said. “I saw him get four knocks and obviously a triple away from the cycle, and just walked up to him and said, ‘hey man, like mine’s not working. Let me see if yours has hits.’ And sure enough it did.”
Andre Pallante (4-1) pitched a one-hit 10th.
Juan Soto had a pair of two-out RBI singles for the Padres (62-72), who have lost five of six. Soto’s second put San Diego ahead 4-3 in the seventh.
San Diego went ahead against Miles Mikolas on RBI singles by Manny Machado in the first and by Ha-Seong Kim and Soto in the second.
“Any time Josh blows a save, it’s stunning,” Padres manager Bob Melvin said. “The guy’s probably the best in the game, but it happens.”
VETERANS
Hill and Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright, who started Monday, are the only two major leaguers 42 or older. Hill is 43 and Wainwright turned 42 on Wednesday.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cardinals: OF Lars Nootbaar (bruised lower abdomen) was to start for Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday and Thursday. He and RHP Ryan Helsley (right forearm strain) are likely to rejoin the team Friday when active rosters expand.
UP NEXT
Padres: RHP Pedro Avila (0-1, 2.63 ERA) starts the first of a four-game series Thursday night as San Diego returns home to face San Francisco. Avila is 0-1 with a 2.25 in his lone career start against the Giants on Oct. 1, 2021.
Cardinals: RHP Dakota Hudson (5-1, 4.41 ERA) opens a three-game series Friday night against visiting Pittsburgh and RHP Mitch Keller (11-8, 4.01 ERA). Hudson had his career-best six game winning streak come to an end in a 12-1 loss to Philadelphia last Saturday.
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