The Cardinals continue to plunge in the National League Central while the Padres extended their lead in the NL West. St. Louis dropped their sixth game in a row losing to the Padres 6-5 Monday.
The Redbirds lead in the division dropped to just 2.5 games after the Astros beat the Phillies. Houston has kept the heat on the Cardinals by winning their last six including a four-game sweep of St. Louis.
San Diego used a five-run second inning to erase a 1-0 deficit. The Cardinals rallied with a run in the third and three in the fourth to tie the game at 5-5.
The game remained tied until Mike Piazza’s RBI single in the seventh gave the Padres a 6-5 lead that would hold up throughout.
Brian Giles had two hits and three RBI.
Jim Edmonds hit a pinch-hit, three-run homer in his return from post-concussion syndrome. Chris Duncan also homered in the game for the 21st time this year.
David Wells missed his scheduled start due to Gout. Mike Thompson filled in on short notice and was hammered early giving up five runs – four earned – on eight hits in 3.1 innings. Scott Cassidy got the win in relief tossing an inning of scoreless ball.
Brad Thompson was saddled with the loss after giving up the single to Piazza.