ST. LOUIS, March 31 (UPI) — Cameron Maybin hit a game-tying homer in the ninth inning Thursday and ignited a two-run 11th that brought the San Diego Padres a 5-3 win over St. Louis.

Making his San Diego debut, Maybin kept the Padres alive in the ninth with a two-out blast to center off Ryan Franklin. He then delivered a single with two away in the 11th, and when shortstop Ryan Theriot misplayed the throw back to the infield, Chase Headley scored all the way from first.

Maybin went to second on the error, but pulled up with a cramp in his right leg. Pinch-runner Cedric Hunter scored an insurance run on a base hit by Nick Hundley.

Maybin came to San Diego this season after spending three years with the Florida Marlins.

The Padres overcame a one-run deficit on three occasions and the two-run 11th made a winner out of Pat Neshek, who escaped a two-walk jam in the bottom of the 10th. Heath Bell worked a perfect 11th to earn the save.

The winning runs came off Bryan Augenstein, the sixth St. Louis pitcher.

Matt Holliday drove in two St. Louis runs, one of them coming on an eighth-inning homer that gave the Cardinals a 3-2 lead.

Updated Mar 31, 2011 9:02 PM ET

ST. LOUIS (AP)

Doing the little things paid off for the San Diego Padres. One big swing, too.

Cameron Maybin tied it with a two-out homer in the ninth inning, then grounded a single that led to the go-ahead run in the 11th on Thursday in a 5-3 opening win over the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Padres managed just two hits the first seven innings but scored two runs, and finally capitalized on shortstop Ryan Theriot’s fielding error.

”We fight, we claw, we hang around,” Maybin said. ”We find a way to do it.”

Cardinals star Albert Pujols shared a big hug with manager Tony La Russa during player introductions, then endured an awful start to what could be his 11th and final season in St. Louis.

Pujols grounded into a career-worst three double plays while going 0 for 5 while five men on base. The three-time NL MVP cut off contract negotiations at the start of spring training and could be a free agent this fall.

”Definitely we had our chances,” Pujols said. ”A couple times we had men in scoring position and I didn’t do my job.”

Matt Holliday homered in the eighth and had three hits for St. Louis. The Cardinals played extra innings on opening day for the first time since a 4-2, 10-inning home loss to the Mets in 1992. The last Padres’ opener that went extras was in 1996 during a 5-4 loss at Chicago.

It was 3-all when Chase Headley singled off Bryan Augustein (0-1) with two outs in the 11th. Maybin followed with a single through the right side and Theriot bobbled right fielder Jon Jay’s bounced relay back to the infield.

”You always want to be on your toes and see where the runner is,” Theriot said. ”It kicked away from me a little bit and the guy was able to score. It’s a heads-up baserunning play.”

Headley kept running and made a headfirst slide to beat the throw home. Nick Hundley added an RBI single for the Padres.

”That’s how we have to play,” Headley said. ”We’re a team built to pitch, play defense, get timely hits and run the bases hard. We won a lot of games that way last year. Hopefully, we can continue to do that.

Pat Neshek (1-0) worked around two walks in the 10th and Heath Bell needed only 10 pitches for the save.

After paying tribute to six Hall of Famers including Stan Musial, the Cardinals let the game get away from them.

Maybin’s solo home run came off a curveball from Ryan Franklin, who went 27 for 29 in save situations last season.

”A guy like him, he definitely likes to get ahead,” Maybin said. ”It was probably his version of a get-me-over pitch.”

Holliday hit a low liner that skimmed over the wall in right-center in the eighth, a solo homer that put St. Louis ahead 3-2.

Chris Carpenter made his fifth opening day start for St. Louis and worked seven stingy innings, allowing two runs on only two hits. Tim Stauffer, standing in for injured Mat Latos, allowed two runs on nine hits in six innings for San Diego.

The Cardinals outhit San Diego 10-2 the first six innings but hit into three double plays, two by Pujols, and were 2 for 9 with runners in scoring position. Three times they put the first two men on, but totaled one run.

The Padres erased their second one-run deficit on Hundley’s two-out, RBI double in the fifth. The Cardinals almost made it out of the inning the previous at-bat when Maybin struck out with Ryan Ludwick running on a full count.

Ludwick looked like an easy out at second, but he rattled the ball out of second baseman Skip Schumaker’s glove, what Schumaker called a ”perfect knockdown,” for a stolen base.

New Cardinals right fielder Lance Berkman, a regular outfielder for the first time since 2004, had two hits and didn’t touch the ball in eight innings in the field.

NOTES: Jim Edmonds, who ditched a comeback bid in February after signing a minor league contract with the Cardinals, threw out the first pitch. … Latos, who’s on the 15-day DL, threw a bullpen session as scheduled prior to the game. … Cardinals INF Nick Punto was placed on the 15-day DL retroactive to March 22 with a sports hernia. He’s with the team and could play by May.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Albert Pujols cut off contract negotiations at the start of spring training. His bat was equally silent on opening day.

The three-time NL MVP Pujols grounded into a career-worst three double plays while going 0 for 5 in the St. Louis Cardinals’ 5-3, 11-inning loss to the San Diego Padres on Thursday.

Just a coincidence, he insisted, that free agency looms this fall.

“I don’t think about that, man. I flip the page and play the game,” Pujols said. “It’s about playing baseball right now. Not about what I said a month ago, or what the fans are saying.”

Pujols shared a big hug with Tony La Russa during player introductions, and as the manager anticipated, heard nothing but cheers from a sellout red-clad crowd. Then he endured an awful start to what could be his 11th and final season in St. Louis.

“Hitting into three ground-ball double plays, that kills a rally a lot,” Pujols said. “It’s the first game of the year and you have 161 games left.

“I’m glad this is over. Now, we need to refresh and come back on Saturday and hopefully even up the series and try to win the series on Sunday.”

Cameron Maybin tied it with a two-out homer in the ninth inning and grounded a single that led to the go-ahead run in the 11th. The Padres managed just two hits the first seven innings but scored two runs, and finally capitalized on shortstop Ryan Theriot’s fielding error.

“We fight, we claw, we hang around,” Maybin said. “We find a way to do it.”

“Definitely we had our chances,” Pujols said. “A couple times we had men in scoring position and I didn’t do my job.”

Matt Holliday homered in the eighth and had three hits for St. Louis. The Cardinals played extra innings on opening day for the first time since a 4-2, 10-inning home loss to the Mets in 1992. The last Padres’ opener that went extras was in 1996 during a 5-4 loss at Chicago.

It was 3-all when Chase Headley singled off Bryan Augenstein (0-1) with two outs in the 11th. Maybin followed with a single through the right side and Theriot bobbled right fielder Jon Jay’s bounced relay back to the infield.

“You always want to be on your toes and see where the runner is,” Theriot said. “It kicked away from me a little bit and the guy was able to score. It’s a heads-up baserunning play.”

Headley kept running and made a headfirst slide to beat the throw home. Nick Hundley added an RBI single for the Padres.

“That’s how we have to play,” Headley said. “We’re a team built to pitch, play defense, get timely hits and run the bases hard. We won a lot of games that way last year. Hopefully, we can continue to do that.

Pat Neshek (1-0) worked around two walks in the 10th and Heath Bell needed only 10 pitches for the save.

After paying tribute to six Hall of Famers including Stan Musial, the Cardinals let the game get away from them.

Maybin’s solo home run came off a curveball from Ryan Franklin, who went 27 for 29 in save situations last season.

“A guy like him, he definitely likes to get ahead,” Maybin said. “It was probably his version of a get-me-over pitch.”

Holliday hit a low liner that skimmed over the wall in right-center in the eighth, a solo homer that put St. Louis ahead 3-2.

Chris Carpenter made his fifth opening day start for St. Louis and worked seven stingy innings, allowing two runs on only two hits. Tim Stauffer, standing in for injured Mat Latos, allowed two runs on nine hits in six innings for San Diego.

The Cardinals outhit San Diego 10-2 the first six innings but hit into three double plays, two by Pujols, and were 2 for 9 with runners in scoring position. Three times they put the first two men on, but totaled one run.

The Padres erased their second one-run deficit on Hundley’s two-out, RBI double in the fifth. The Cardinals almost made it out of the inning the previous at-bat when Maybin struck out with Ryan Ludwick running on a full count.

Ludwick looked like an easy out at second, but he rattled the ball out of second baseman Skip Schumaker’s glove, what Schumaker called a “perfect knockdown,” for a stolen base.

New Cardinals right fielder Lance Berkman, a regular outfielder for the first time since 2004, had two hits and didn’t touch the ball in eight innings in the field.

NOTES: Jim Edmonds, who ditched a comeback bid in February after signing a minor league contract with the Cardinals, threw out the first pitch. … Latos, who’s on the 15-day DL, threw a bullpen session as scheduled prior to the game. … Cardinals INF Nick Punto was placed on the 15-day DL retroactive to March 22 with a sports hernia. He’s with the team and could play by May.

San Diego Padres kick off 2011 season by hosting hundreds of teachers and students at PETCO Park for physical activity showcase

SAN DIEGO, March 31, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Let’s Move in School, a national initiative to increase physical activity before, during and after school was the cause for a celebration of moving, hosted by the San Diego Padres and led by Drew Brees, Annika Sorenstam, Tracy Austin and Carl Lewis, with hundreds of local students and adults at PETCO Park today. In support of First Lady Michelle Obama‘s Let’s Move! campaign, the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) has brought together leading education, health and sports organizations to advance school-based physical activity.

Let’s Move in School Showcase

The Let’s Move in School Showcase modeled what schools can do to increase physical activity before, during and after school. The celebration started with a physical education showcase, featuring San Diego County schools demonstrating quality physical education including activities such as a flash mob dance routine, tennis, cultural dances and power circuits.

Following the physical education showcase, sports stars took the stage to model how schools can make physical activity part of the learning environment. Drew Brees, 2009 Super Bowl MVP led group morning announcements, followed by Tracy Austin, former World Number One female professional tennis player, with supporting remarks for quality physical education. Annika Sorenstam was unable to attend, celebrating the birth of her son; however her Foundation was represented in providing words of support. The Pad Squad and Swinging Friar joined Dr. Toni Yancey, author of Instant Recess, in leading an Instant Recess baseball activity as an example of classroom routines that improve attention and behavior. Carl Lewis, the only US Track and Field athlete to win nine Olympic gold medals, closed the event by leading an after school game to build running, jumping and throwing skills.

Getting Started

Schools can get started by planning a Let’s Move in School celebration during National Physical Education and Sport Week, May 1-7, 2011. More than 1 million students are already signed-up to take part. To register a school celebration, find out more about the initiative, and access promotional videos, tools and more visit www.LetsMoveInSchool.org.

Let’s Move in School is supported by the following corporate partners, committed to improving physical activity among youth: The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, American Beverage Association, HERSHEY’S Track and Field Games, ING, Skillastics, Dance, Dance, Revolution, GenMove, HOPSports, PlayCore, Playworld Systems, Spark, Speed Stacks, and the United States Tennis Association.

American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD)

AAHPERD, an alliance of five national associations, six district associations, and a Research Consortium, provides its members with a comprehensive and coordinated array of resources, support, and programs to help practitioners improve their skills to further the health and well-being of the American public. It is the largest organization of professionals involved in physical education, recreation, fitness, dance, health promotion and all specialties related to achieving an active, healthy lifestyle. AAHPERD serves 20,000 members and has its headquarters in Reston, Virginia, 25 miles west of Washington DC. For more information, visit www.aahperd.org.

SOURCE American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD)

(Sports Network) – Albert Pujols begins what could be his final season in St. Louis when the Cardinals kick off their 2011 campaign against the San Diego Padres this afternoon at Busch Stadium.

Pujols, who is eligible to become a free agent at season’s end, cut off negotiations with the Cardinals shortly after the start of spring training, with the two sides reportedly still far apart on a long-term contract.

The three-time NL MVP led the league with 42 home runs and 118 RBI last season, but his .312 average was a personal low in 10 MLB seasons and his .414 on-base percentage was his lowest since 2002.

St. Louis may need Pujols even more so if they intend on getting back to the postseason, as the Cardinals will be without staff ace Adam Wainwright for the entire season. Wainwright suffered an elbow injury shortly after the start of spring training and underwent Tommy John surgery that will cost him the year.

The Pujols contract situation and the Wainwright injury come on the heels of a largely disappointing 2010 campaign for St. Louis, which finished the year five games back of the National League Central champion Cincinnati Reds.

With Wainwright sidelined, more will be asked of 35-year-old right-hander Chris Carpenter, who will take the ball this afternoon in his sixth Opening Day assignment. The 2005 NL Cy Young winner, Carpenter put together another solid year in 2010, going 16-9 with a 3.22 ERA in 35 starts and leading the team with 235 innings.

“Every time you get to pitch Opening Day, it is exciting,” Carpenter said. “I don’t care if you’re 22 or 40. To do what we do and start the season, the excitement of starting the season and the excitement that comes to this ballclub and that stadium and the city when baseball season starts, it’s an exciting thing. I’m looking forward to it, and it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

San Diego, meanwhile, heads into 2011 following a surprising year last season that saw them in the mix for a playoff spot right up until the final day. However, not much is expected this year following a winter that saw the Padres deal slugging first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to the Boston Red Sox.

“This deal is for the long-term health of our franchise,” Padres GM Jed Hoyer said in a statement at the time of the trade. “We only had Adrian for one more season, and once we knew it was for one more season we acted to get the best group of players back.”

Gonzalez isn’t the only player missing from last year’s 90-win club, as half the roster is gone. So the Padres are in a rebuild mode once again, though they still boast one of the better pitching staffs in the league.

Twenty-three-year-old Mat Latos was a legitimate Cy Young Award candidate last season after going 14-10 with a 2.92 ERA. He was on pace to make today’s Opening Day start, but a shoulder injury forced him to go on the disabled list.

Instead it will be right-hander Tim Stauffer, the second longest-tenured player in the Padres’ organization. Stauffer appeared in 32 games (seven starts) for the Padres last season and was 6-5 with a 1.85 ERA.

St. Louis was 4-3 against the Padres last season.

This is the first time the Cardinals and Padres will meet on Opening Day

The Sports Network

PEORIA – As the San Diego Padres made their final moves this week at spring training, their Triple-A team roster took on a more definite shape.

The Triple-A Tucson Padres will be a young group but will boast major-league experience and combine speed and power, Padres director of player development Randy Smith said Tuesday at the Padres’ spring training complex.

The Padres open the Pacific Coast League season April 7, then play their home opener April 15 at Kino Stadium. The team is expected to play at least two seasons in Tucson before a new ballpark is possibly built in Escondido, Calif.

Shortstop Everth Cabrera, outfielders Aaron Cunningham and Luis Durango, third baseman Jesus Guzman and starting pitcher Wade LeBlanc all have major-league experience and will play in Tucson. LeBlanc, who was a candidate for the major-league rotation and was optioned Monday to Tucson, is expected to be the opening day starter.

“It’s going to be a good club,” Smith said. “It’s going to be young, but I think it’s going to be pretty good, as long as we stay healthy and the major-league club stays healthy.”

Injuries already have impacted Tucson’s roster. A strained hamstring landed outfielder Eric Patterson on San Diego’s disabled list, allowing outfielder Cedric Hunter – initially expected to go to Tucson – to make the big club after an impressive spring. Hunter is expected to join Tucson eventually, while LeBlanc might be with Tucson briefly before going to the majors.

Others slated for Triple-A include first baseman Anthony Rizzo (part of the Adrian Gonzalez trade with Boston), second baseman Logan Forsythe, power-hitting first baseman Matt Clark, and closer Evan Scribner, a former Arizona Diamondbacks farmhand.

Outfielder Mike Baxter, who played 136 Triple-A games last season, will be out for two months because of a thumb injury.

The rotation will include LeBlanc, who started 25 games for San Diego last season, highly regarded prospect Simon Castro, Josh Geer (who pitched for San Diego in 2008-09), Jeremy Hefner and Will Inman. LeBlanc is the lone left-hander of the group.

As for the bullpen, Greg Burke, Scott Munter and Aaron Poreda will return to Triple-A.

“We’re going to be better,” said manager Terry Kennedy, who led the team in Portland, Ore., last season. “Being in Tucson will improve our offense.”

A spark

Cabrera was optioned to Tucson on Monday after the Padres acquired utilityman Alberto Gonzalez from the Washington Nationals. Cabrera received congratulations from his parents and teammates, who had read premature reports of him making the big club.

“It’s a little hard, but I know it happens in baseball,” he said.

The 24-year-old hit .208 in 76 games with San Diego last year after he batted .255 in 103 games in 2009. The Padres want him to play every day.

“He’ll provide a lot of energy for that team and spark,” Smith said.

Another possibility

Another former major-leaguer who could see time in Tucson is first baseman-outfielder Kyle Blanks, who underwent Tommy John surgery on July 30.

Blanks has been taking batting practice, but his throwing has been limited. He said his throwing intensified Monday, a positive step. Smith said he is unsure which level Blanks will go to, but he will need at-bats.

“It’s gone at a pretty good pace,” said Blanks, who has played 87 big-league games over the past two seasons. “In the last month, my activities have increased a lot more than I thought they would.”

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