By MATT PIKE
The St. Louis Cardinals scored just enough runs to come out on top over the San Diego Padres in the series opener between the two at PNC Park, winning 2-1 in a late night affair.
After allowing two singles in the first inning, including an RBI single from Xander Bogaerts scoring Manny Machado for the opening run, after Machado walked, Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore settled in and allowed just one more hit through his remaining five innings, and allowing just three more baserunners total on way to his second win of the season.
St. Louis tied the game up for Liberatore in the fourth inning with one out, Alec Burleson hitting a solo home run to right field for his sixth home run of the season. The home run from Burleson was the first hit allowed by Padres starter Michael King, to that point retiring 10 of the 11 batters he faced, the only other baserunner also being Burleson who walked in the first inning.
King left the game giving up just the one hit and walking two in the seventh inning, the only other Redbird baserunner against the Padres starter a walk to JJ Wetherholt. Bradgley Rodriguez came on in relief, and the Cardinals earned Liberatore the win, just before he left the mound, Jordan Walker doubling to lead off the inning, then following a strikeout by Nolan Gorman, scoring on a go ahead triple by Masyn Winn.
George Soriano and JoJo Romero combined to give up just one hit across the seventh and eighth innings, before Riley O'Brien came on in the ninth for St. Louis to close the door, shutting down the Padres in order and earning his 11th save. With the win, Liberatore improved to 2-1 on the season, pitching six innings and giving up three hits and one run, walking three and striking out six.
At the plate, in a low hitting affair with five Cardinals hits to just four Padres hits, Walker led the way going 2-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored. Burleson was 1-for-3 with the home run and a walk, driving in one run, while Winn was 1-for-4 with the triple and an RBI. Victor Scott II had the only other St. Louis hit, going 1-for-3.
St. Louis and San Diego continue their series tomorrow. Michael McGreevy (2-2, 2.52 ERA, 24K's) takes the mound for the Cardinals against Griffin Canning (0-0, 1.80 ERA, 7K's) for the Padres, making his second start since being activated from the IL. First pitch is slightly earlier than the opener, at 8:45pm, pregame will be at 8:35 on KY 102 (102.5FM).
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