SAN DIEGO — The Cardinals had a chance Wednesday to sweep a series at Petco Park for the first time since that stadium in San Diego opened in 2004.
The fact that it didn’t happen wasn’t because of a lack of chances.
The Cardinals had six hits, drew four walks and had four other batters reach base when they were hit by a pitch but could only generate two runs in losing the final game of the three-game series.
They were upended after grounding into three double plays, losing another runner on a strikeout-caught stealing double play, having another caught stealing and leaving seven runners on base, four of them in scoring position.
They put the leadoff hitter on base four times but that runner was only able to score once, in the eighth, when they cut San Diego’s lead to 3-2.
A single and walk with one out in the ninth gave the Cardinals their last chance, but pinch-hitter Alec Burleson and Victor Scott II each struck out to end the would-be rally.
Here is how Wednesday’s game broke down:
At the plate: Brendan Donovan was hit by a pitch twice, Willson Contreras once and Scott once … Nolan Arenado singled in a run in the fourth after a double by Contreras while the other run scored on a fielder’s choice by Paul Goldschmidt in the eighth, although he was not credited with an RBI … Ivan Herrera was the only Cardinal with a two-hit day with a pair of singles … The only starter who failed to reach base at least once was Jordan Walker, who was 0-of-3 … Arenado’s hit was the only one in seven at-bats with a runner in scoring position.
On the mound: Zack Thompson had to battle his control but was able to get through five innings, allowing only three runs, despite giving up five hits, one a home run, and walking four. Three of his walks came in the first inning, including one with the bases loaded … Matthew Liberatore, Andre Pallante and Ryan Fernandez were able to keep the Padres from adding to their lead over the final three innings, with Liberatore and Fernadez each pitching around a double.
Key stat: The Cardinals finished their season-opening road trip to Los Angeles and San Diego with a 3-4 record, going 3-2 after losing the first two games to the Dodgers.
Worth noting: In his major-league debut, pitching the eighth inning, Fernandez allowed a one-out double and issued an intentional walk but got all of his three outs on strikeouts … In the three games in San Diego the Cardinals relievers combined to work eight shutout innings, allowing five hits while striking out nine … This was the 10th game in franchise history when the Cardinals had four or more batters hit by a pitch. The team record is five, set against the Padres in 2017.
Looking ahead: The Cardinals will play Miami in the home opener at 3:15 Thursday at Busch Stadium. Lance Lynn will get the start, the first time he will have started the home opener in his Cardinals’ career. He has started 77 games at Busch, all for the Cardinals, his last in 2017. He did not pitch at Busch in any of the last six years, with his only starts against the Cardinals coming in 2018 at Minnesota and in 2021 at the White Sox.
Follow Rob Rains on Twitter @RobRains
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