Wacha, Piscotty lead Cardinals past Padres 10-3
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}SAN DIEGO (AP) Michael Wacha pitched six solid innings and Stephen Piscotty homered twice and drove in five runs to help the St. Louis Cardinals avoid a three-game sweep by beating the San Diego Padres 10-3 Sunday.
Jason Heyward had three hits as St. Louis improved its major league-leading record to 78-45 and averted getting swept for the first time this season.
Wacha (15-4) picked up his fourth straight win and added to his career-best win total by allowing just one run on four hits. He struck out three and walked two.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}After being shut out on Saturday night, the Cardinals scored four in the first against rookie Colin Rea, who was making his third major-league start.
San Diego made two errors in the first inning and the Cardinals capitalized with three hits, including Piscotty's two-run triple.
Rea (2-1) struggled early and made a throwing error in the first that contributed to the Cardinals' rally. The 25-year-old Rea gave up five runs - four earned - over four innings. He struck out four and walked two.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Cardinals scored three runs in the seventh against Odrisamer Despaigne. Heyward tripled home a run and Piscotty hit a solo shot to left.
Piscotty, who had been hitless in 10 at-bats coming into the game, hit a two-run shot against Craig Kimbrel in the ninth for Piscotty's fourth career multi-homer game.
Justin Upton had two hits for the Padres, who had won five straight.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Matt Kemp went 0 for 4 with a strikeout and had his 14-game hitting streak snapped.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Padres: C Derek Norris is day-to-day with a left wrist contusion after X-rays following Saturday night's game were negative.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}UP NEXT
Cardinals: RHP Lance Lynn (9-8, 2.94) will take the mound in the series opener in Arizona on Monday, looking to reach 10 wins for the fourth straight season. The D-Backs counter with LHP Robbie Ray (2-9, 3.38).
Padres: RHP James Shields (9-5, 3.74) opens the series on Tuesday in Washington going for a second straight win. Shields shut out the Braves over six innings in his last start. Washington will counter with RHP Stephen Strasburg (7-6, 4.22).