Walker, Winn Help Cardinals Squeeze Out 2-1 Win in San Diego
The Cardinal Chronicle
Walker, Winn Help Cardinals Squeeze Out 2-1 Win in San Diego
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur
Left-hander Matthew Liberatore gave the St. Louis Cardinals a chance Thursday night, and Jordan Walker and Masyn Winn came through with clutch hits to power a 2-1 victory over the San Diego Padres in the opener of a four-game series at Petco Park.
Liberatore turned in his best start of the season, holding San Diego to one run on three hits over six strong innings, and the Cardinals pushed across the go-ahead run in the seventh to beat the Padres.
The win extended St. Louis’ recent hot streak. The Cardinals have won eight of their last 10 games and improved to 12-5 on the road, the best mark in the National League.
San Diego struck first in the opening inning when Xander Bogaerts singled to right, scoring Manny Machado and sending Fernando Tatis Jr. to third. But Liberatore settled in from there, working around three walks and striking out six while keeping the Cardinals within a run.
For much of the night, Liberatore and Padres starter Michael King were locked in a pitcher’s duel. St. Louis broke through in the fourth inning when Alec Burleson, the reigning National League Player of the Week and 2025 Silver Slugger, drove a pitch from King over the right-field fence for a solo home run, tying the game 1-1.
Burleson’s bat continues to heat up at the right time. Over his last 10 games, he is batting .333 with three home runs and 13 RBIs, providing a steady presence in the heart of the Cardinals’ lineup.
The game was still tied when King exited, and the Cardinals went to work against the San Diego bullpen in the seventh. Walker led off with a double into the left-field corner. One out later, Winn lifted a ball toward right field that was just out of Nick Castellanos’ reach and skipped past him for a triple, bringing Walker home with the go-ahead run.
That was the difference.
From there, the Cardinals’ bullpen did the rest. George Soriano handled the seventh, JoJo Romero worked a clean eighth, and Riley O’Brien closed it out in the ninth for his 11th save of the season. The three relievers combined to allow just one hit over three scoreless innings, facing the minimum nine batters after Liberatore handed them the lead.
The biggest moment came immediately after Soriano entered. Tatis Jr. opened the bottom of the seventh with an infield single, giving San Diego speed on the bases and the tying run aboard. But rookie catcher Pedro Pagés cut him down trying to steal second, delivering a perfect throw that erased the threat before it could grow into something larger.
Soriano finished the seventh from there, Romero needed only seven pitches — all strikes — to get through the eighth, and O’Brien struck out one in a clean ninth to finish one of the Cardinals’ sharper road wins of the season.
The Padres had chances, but St. Louis did what good road clubs do — it pitched, defended and found just enough offense to win.
It was not a loud victory. It was not a slugfest. It was a clean, steady road win built on starting pitching, timely hitting, airtight relief work and one critical throw from behind the plate.
Liberatore gave the Cardinals six quality innings. Burleson supplied the early thunder. Walker started the winning rally. Winn delivered the biggest swing of the night. Pagés shut down a threat with his arm. And the bullpen made a one-run lead stand for nine outs.
That is winning baseball, old-school style.
The Cardinals will continue the four-game series Friday night in San Diego, looking to build on one of their cleanest road wins of the season.
The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports
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