The St. Louis Cardinals erupted for eight runs on 14 hits, outslugging the San Diego Padres in a back-and-forth 8-5 victory Saturday night. The Cardinals' offense was a relentless machine, with Pedro Pages delivering the biggest blow—a three-run homer that broke open a tight game. Ivan Herrera continued his scorching summer, collecting three hits in four at-bats, while Masyn Winn drove in two runs to pace a balanced attack. Starter Michael McGreevy battled through six innings, surrendering four runs but keeping the Cardinals within striking distance before the bullpen—led by Kyle Leahy's 1.2 scoreless frames—slammed the door.

The Padres fought valiantly, with Jackson Merrill launching his 15th home run of the season and Manny Machado extending his RBI streak, but their pitching faltered early. Starter Randy Vasquez lasted just four innings, allowing five earned runs, and the bullpen couldn’t contain St. Louis’ late rally. The loss drops San Diego deeper in the wild-card chase, while the Cardinals—fueled by timely hitting and clutch relief—gain momentum in their push for October.