The Sports Xchange
Aug 22, 2017
ST. LOUIS -- Yangervis Solarte knocked in a career-high six runs Tuesday night as the San Diego Padres became the latest team to plunder St. Louis Cardinals pitching in a 12-4 rout at Busch Stadium.
Solarte capped his big evening in the eighth with a two-run homer to right-center that traveled an estimated 455 feet, his 14th blast of the year. He became the first player in franchise history to drive in six runs in a game at St. Louis.
The Cardinals (63-62), who lost for the sixth time in eight games and fell 4 1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs in the National League Central, have permitted at least five runs in 12 consecutive games.
San Diego (56-69) snapped a 4-4 tie in the seventh with six runs. Jose Pirela singled to knock in Manuel Margot. Matt Szczur followed with a two-run pinch single, and Austin Hedges hit a three-run homer, his 16th long ball of the year.
Craig Stammen (1-2) got the win by retiring the final batter of the bottom of the sixth inning, two pitches after Yadier Molina evened the score at 4 with his 15th homer of the year.
Matt Bowman (3-5) was tagged with the loss. He yielded three runs without recording an out in the seventh.
Neither starter was involved in the decision.
Padres left-hander Clayton Richard gave up six hits and four runs in 5 2/3 innings, walking one and whiffing six.
St. Louis' Lance Lynn lasted six innings, permitting six hits and four runs. He walked one and fanned four.
San Diego initiated scoring in the third inning. Solarte laced a three-run double to the wall in right center. Lynn aided the rally by plunking .111-hitting Richard as well as Pirela.
An inning later, the Cardinals responded with the long ball. After a two-out double by Molina, Jedd Gyorko walloped a two-run homer to left, his 18th home run of the year and his seventh in eight games against his former team. Stephen Piscotty whacked a solo shot three pitches later, his seventh homer of the year and his first since June 18.
Solarte untied the score in the fifth, however, with a carbon copy of his third-inning double. This one scored Margot to make it 4-3 Padres.
NOTES: St. Louis RF Stephen Piscotty was added to the 25-man roster, with 1B Luke Voit being optioned to Triple-A Memphis. Piscotty was the 26th man for Sunday night's Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pa., going 2-for-4 with a walk. ... San Diego activated OF Matt Szczur from the family leave list Tuesday and optioned LHP Kyle McGrath to Triple-A El Paso. McGrath appeared in five games, going 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA. ... Cardinals C Yadier Molina's fourth-inning hit Tuesday night was the 1,705th of his career, allowing him to pass Ted Simmons for 11th place on the franchise's all-time list.