Wednesday’s Game Report: Cardinals 5, Padres 4
By Rob Rains
Josh Hader might not want to look in from the mound and see Tommy Edman standing at home plate anytime soon.
For the second time in about 18 hours, Edman’s hit off Hader gave the Cardinals a walk-off win over the Padres on Wednesday at Busch Stadium.
On Tuesday night, it was a first-pitch single into the left field corner in the 10th inning. On Wednesday, it was a home run into the Cardinals bullpen that left Hader squatting near the mound as he watched Edman round the bases.
Edman’s second career walk-off homer came after rookie Masyn Winn – with a bat he borrowed from Jordan Walker – doubled on a two out, 0-2 pitch to bring Edman to the plate.
The blast on a 1-1 pitch was Edman’s second career home run off Hader, the only player on the current Cardinals’ roster to hit even one. The other came in 2019 – which, until Tuesday night, had been the last time the Cardinals had scored a run off Hader.
“He’s got such a good fastball I just tried to stay as short as I could and stay on top of it,” Edman said. “It’s fun when you accidentally hit a homer.
“Especially in this year that we’ve had to have a couple of big wins like that; the excitement is awesome. Hopefully we can have a great September.”
Edman is now 4-of-8 in his career off Hader. The four hits are tied for the most by any hitter off Hader in his career.
Winn also scored the winning run on Tuesday night when he started the 10th as the automatic runner on second base. He felt he contributed more to this win.
“I’m glad I earned my way there today,” Winn said. “I think I had a really good view from second base, watching it fly off the bat was a lot of fun.
“Goodness, he got on top of it and drove it … I rounded third base and looked up and Tatis was jumping and couldn’t get it. We just went crazy.
“I thought last night was the coolest game I’ve ever been a part of but I think today takes the cake.”
Here is how Wednesday’s game broke down:
At the plate: Walker also had a big day, going 4-of-4 for the first time in his major-league career. His biggest hit was a three-run homer in the fourth that pulled the Cardinals from a 3-0 deficit into a tie. He also doubled and had a pair of singles – and then let Winn use one of his bats, but not the home run bat, in the ninth … Richie Palacios was the only other Cardinal with two hits … An infield single broke Nolan Arenado’s 0-of-18 streak but was his only hit in four at-bats.
On the mound: The streak for Miles Mikolas without a win reached eight consecutive starts, dating back to July 17. He allowed three runs in the first two innings before giving up just two hits over his final four innings of work, getting a no-decision thanks to Walker’s homer … An RBI single by Juan Soto off John King in the eighth broke the tie and put the Padres ahead 4-3.
Key stat: Edman is one of four players all-time with more than one career home run off Hader. Eugenio Suarez has the most, three, with former Cardinal Marcell Ozune and Starling Marte the only others besides Edman with two in their careers; it was only the second home run allowed by Hader this season.
Worth noting: Edman also stole a career-high three bases, two coming in the first inning … The last Cardinal to hit a home run and steal at least three bases in a game was Edgar Renteria in 2003. The only others to do it in franchise history were Vince Coleman and Lou Brock … Walker’s last four-hit game was on Aug. 12 of last year for Double A Springfield … The Cardinals finished August with an 11-16 record … The Cardinals are expected to activate Ryan Helsley and Lars Nootbaar before their next game on Friday, when rosters can be expanded to 28 players. Nootbaar was scheduled to play on Wednesday night and Thursday in Memphis … Adam Wainwright celebrated his 42nd birthday on Wednesday, exchanging the lineup cards at home plate before the game with former teammate Matt Carpenter representing the Padres.
Looking ahead: After Thursday’s day off the Cardinals will welcome the Pirates to Busch Stadium for a three-game series beginning on Friday night. Dakota Hudson is the scheduled starter.
Follow Rob Rains on Twitter @RobRains
