Cardinals blanked by Friars 8-0 as offense continues to struggle
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
SAN DIEGO -- Ian Kennedy combined with five relievers on an eight-hitter and Matt Kemp and Justin Upton keyed a seven-run seventh inning, leading the San Diego Padres to an 8-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday night.
Kennedy (8-11) allowed the first two runners to reach base in the seventh before three relievers each struck out a batter.
San Diego then sent 12 men to the plate in the bottom of the inning, keyed by Kemp's two-run, bases-loaded single and Upton's two-run double, both off reliever Seth Maness, that made it 5-0.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
A throwing error by St. Louis third baseman Mark Reynolds then led to three unearned runs in the inning.
The loss reduced St. Louis' lead in the NL Central to 3 1/2 games over Pittsburgh, which beat San Francisco 3-2.
The Padres, who have won nine of 11, tied their season high with their fifth straight win.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
San Diego led 1-0 when the Cardinals threatened in the seventh inning against Kennedy before three relievers combined to escape the jam.
Brandon Moss led off with a double and took third on Tommy Pham's single. Sean Kelley replaced Kennedy and struck out pitcher Carlos Martinez, who had hits in his first two at-bats.
Left-hander Marc Rzepczynski came in to strike out Kolten Wong and recently acquired Bud Norris struck out Stephen Piscotty looking.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Kevin Quackenbush and Odrisamer Despaigne each pitched a scoreless inning for San Diego's fourth shutout of the season.
Kennedy allowed seven hits, struck out 10 and walked one.
Martinez (12-6) lost his second straight start, allowing three runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Padres rookie Travis Jankowski, who made his major-league debut Friday night with two hits and an RBI, followed with two hits and two RBIs.
Kennedy used strikeouts to escape a couple of jams. After Martinez reached on a one-out double in the third inning and went to third base, Kennedy struck out Piscotty looking.
In the fifth, Pham had a one-out double and took third on Martinez's infield single. Kennedy struck out Matt Carpenter and Piscotty to end the inning.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Carpenter was ejected by home plate umpire Chris Segal for arguing after being called out on strikes.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Cardinals: Although RF Jason Heyward started his second straight game, the team is being cautious about his sore hamstring.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Padres: C Derek Norris left the game in the eighth inning after Quackenbush struck out pinch-hitter Peter Bourjos. The strikeout pitch deflected off Norris and bounced away, allowing Bourjos to take first. Norris then went to his knees before coming out.
UP NEXT
Cardinals: RHP Michael Wacha (14-4, 2.85 ERA) will look to increase his career highs in wins (14), starts (23), innings pitched (145 1-3) and strikeouts (125) in Sunday's series finale.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Padres: RHP Colin Rea (2-0, 4.22) will attempt to join Dave Freisleben (1974) as the only Padres to win their first three career starts. All three of Rea's starts have been at home.