Lynn and Pham lead Cardinals over Padres
ST. LOUIS -- Behind the bats of their starting pitcher and most recent callup, the Cardinals salvaged a series split with a 3-1 victory over the Padres at Busch Stadium on Sunday. Offense was at a premium throughout the four-game series, as the two teams combined for just 18 runs.
San Diego struck first with a Matt Kemp RBI single in the third to score Yangervis Solarte, who had advanced into scoring position on Lance Lynn's errant pickoff move. But Lynn, who went on to finish seven three-hit innings, retired 11 straight beginning with Kolten Wong's web gem to end that frame.
The Cardinals then scored three, with center fielder Tommy Pham driving in all of the runs with a two-run homer and double. Lynn, with the first multi-hit game of his career, scored twice.
"I might be running out of luck when it comes to hitting," said Lynn, now 6-for-26 this season. "But I'll take it. That's for sure."
All three runs were charged to Padres starter Ian Kennedy, who had not allowed more than one earned run in any of his previous four starts.
"I hung a curveball to Lynn the first time, the second time was a fastball over the plate and he poked it down the line," Kennedy said. "With Pham, this is the first series, I think. We're all trying to figure each other out. He did a really good job on the changeup down for a home run."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Video: SD@STL: Pham launches an RBI double in the 5th
Dynamic duo: Lynn and Pham teamed up to provide all of the Cardinals' offense. Lynn had a single in the third and ground-rule double in the fifth and scored both times. Pham gave the Cardinals the lead with his first career homer and then added to it with an RBI double off the center-field wall.
"It's only been three games, but I am having a great time up here, being up here with everybody, just trying to contribute and do my part," said Pham, who was recalled by the Cardinals on Friday.
Video: SD@STL: Lynn allows only one unearned run, fans eight
Better call Sol: Solarte reached base in his first two plate appearances on Sunday, scoring a run after a walk and throwing error by Lynn in the third inning. Solarte has at least one hit in nine of his last 10 games.
Video: SD@STL: Wong makes great diving grab to rob Alonso
Flyin' Hawaiian: Wong closed the top half of the third with one of the best defensive plays of the Cardinals' first half. With one run already in and two on base, the second baseman sprinted toward center and made a back-handed, diving catch. The web gem saved at least one run. More >
"I knew that with guys on base, if I don't make that play, they're scoring," Wong said. "As soon as I saw the ball hit, I knew I was going to do everything I could to catch that ball, and luckily I did."
QUOTABLE
"We had a good game today. We have a long way to go. We're looking forward to the challenge." -- Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, deflecting a question about his team hitting the halfway point of the season with 53 wins
"Really good defensive play by Wong, kind of changed the momentum a little bit, would've given us a 2-0 lead. Then [Lynn] took advantage. He smelled it after that." -- Padres interim manager Pat Murphy
LONG BALL WOES
Video: SD@STL: Kennedy strikes out four in quality start
Kennedy has now yielded a team-high 18 home runs this season, one more than his teammate, James Shields. The Padres starting pitchers have allowed 63 home runs in 84 games. A year ago, the starting staff allowed 84 home runs in 162 games.
WHAT'S NEXT
Padres: The Padres open a three-game series at 4:05 p.m. PT on Monday against the Pirates in Pittsburgh. James Shields (7-3, 4.14) gets the start. Shields is winless in his last five starts, going 0-3 with two no decisions. He has a 5.59 ERA in that stretch.
Cardinals: The Cardinals will close out the first half with an eight-game road trip, beginning with Monday's 7:05 p.m. CT game against the Cubs. John Lackey will be pitching against a Chicago team for the third straight start. He allowed two runs over seven innings to both the Cubs (June 26) and White Sox (July 1).
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