St. Louis, May 9, 2024 – The San Diego Padres electrified fans with winning 2 of 3 games against the St. Louis Cardinals. Each game brought its own drama, from nail-biting finishes to dominant displays, showcasing the Padres' depth and resilience.

Game 1: Padres Hold Off Cardinals in Nail-Biter (Padres win 5-4)

The series opener on Monday night set the stage for a thrilling showdown. The Padres jumped to an early lead, scoring two runs in the first inning. Rod Carew walked and advanced to third on Dan Hawk's single, then both were brought home by Wes Covington's double to center field. The Padres held this lead until the sixth inning when the Cardinals clawed back with two runs, thanks to walks and timely singles by Roberto Clemente and Bobby Byrne.

In the seventh inning, Covington struck again, belting a solo home run to center, pushing the Padres ahead. The Cardinals responded in kind, tying the game again with clutch hitting from Albert Belle and a bases-loaded walk to Sal Bando.

However, it was Goose Goslin’s eighth-inning groundout that brought home the decisive run for the Padres, securing a 5-4 victory. Rollie Fingers shut down the Cardinals in the last two innings with three strikeouts, cementing the win for the Padres and earning a save.

Key Performers:

• Wes Covington: 3-for-4, HR, 2B, 3 RBIs
• Dan Hawk: 3-for-5, 1 R
• Bob Lemon: 6.2 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 7 K

Game 2: Padres Dominate with a Shutout Victory (Padres win 16-0)

Tuesday night saw the Padres at their offensive peak, demolishing the Cardinals 16-0 in a spectacular display. San Diego wasted no time, scoring two runs in the first inning with a two-run homer by Wes Covington. The runs kept coming with contributions from the entire lineup. Luis Monteso led the charge with a home run in the second inning and a total of four hits and three RBIs. Lenny Dykstra was equally impressive, going 4-for-5 with two doubles.

On the mound, Dave Stewart was in command, allowing just two hits over five innings while striking out four. Daryl Edwards took over in relief, maintaining the shutout by allowing only four hits in the final four innings. The Padres' defense was flawless, and their pitching staff ensured the Cardinals never had a chance.

Key Performers:

• Luis Monteso: 4-for-6, HR, 3 RBIs
• Lenny Dykstra: 4-for-5, 2 2B, 1 R
• Dave Stewart: 5 IP, 2 H, 4 K

Game 3: Late Rally Falls Short for Padres (Cardinals win 8-6)

The series finale on Wednesday night provided a different kind of drama. The Cardinals, determined to avoid a sweep, came out swinging. Joe Morgan and Roberto Clemente ignited the offense early, capitalizing on a fielding error to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning. The Cardinals built a commanding 8-2 lead by the fifth inning, highlighted by Darryl Motley’s two-run homer and Rafael Ramirez's two-RBI triple.

San Diego showed heart in the eighth inning, staging a fierce comeback. Pat Patterson doubled, and Andy Van Slyke launched a three-run homer to bring the Padres within two runs. Despite loading the bases in the ninth inning, their rally fell short as Freddy Washington struck out the final batters, sealing an 8-6 victory for the Cardinals.

Key Performers:

• Andy Van Slyke: 2-for-4, HR, 2B, 3 RBIs
• Rafael Ramirez: 3-for-4, 2 3B, 3 RBIs
• Juan Marichal: 7 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 9 K

Series MVP: Wes Covington

Covington’s consistent offensive contributions earned him the Series MVP honors. His performance, particularly in Game 1 and Game 2, was instrumental in the Padres' victories.

Covington’s Series Stats:

• 6-for-14, 1 HR, 1 2B, 6 RBIs, .429 AVG, .571 SLG