ST. LOUIS — Cardinals manager Tony La Russa batted the pitcher eighth to boost the St. Louis offense. Quickly shedding awful spring numbers, Jaime Garcia needed very little help.

The 24-year-old left-hander looked nothing like the kid saddled with a 6.26 spring ERA, throwing a four-hitter with a career-best nine strikeouts as St. Louis avoided a season-opening sweep at home with a 2-0 victory against the San Diego Padres on Sunday.

“I knew my arm felt good, physically I felt great and mentally felt like I was where I wanted it to be,” Garcia said. “I wasn’t concerned at all. I knew I had the stuff.”

Yadier Molina’s RBI single up the middle off Dustin Moseley (0-1) in the fifth inning was the difference for St. Louis, which hasn’t been swept by the Padres at home since 1980. More important, the Cardinals got their first victory.

“You’ve got to get off zero,” La Russa said. “Over the long season if your record’s good enough it’s going to reflect it. But you don’t want to walk around with an anvil on your back.”

Moseley allowed only four hits in seven strong innings for San Diego, which missed a chance to open 3-0 for only the fourth time in franchise history and the first time since the 1984 team that went on to win the NL pennant. The right-hander is filling in for Mat Latos, on the 15-day disabled list with a shoulder injury, to start the year.

“We had a good plan and we stuck with it and it worked out for me,” said Moseley, whose career best is 7 1/3 innings. “[Garcia] was just better. I was throwing everything for strikes, just mixing it up.

“You’ve got to, they’ve got a good lineup.”

Garcia (1-0) walked two in his second career shutout and the majors’ first this season, needing only 102 pitches in a game that lasted two hours, three minutes.

“It was a wonderfully pitched game,” said shortstop Ryan Theriot, who added an RBI single in the eighth off Luke Gregorson.

Garcia struck out the side in the second against the 4-5-6 hitters. Starting with Chris Denorfia’s double-play ball in the seventh, the left-hander retired his final eight hitters. He was pitching so well that La Russa let Garcia bat after Skip Schumaker’s leadoff single in the eighth, and the Cardinals got an insurance run despite Garcia striking out on a bunt attempt.

The Padres loaded the bases with one out in the sixth on two hits and a walk, including Moseley’s first career hit, before Ryan Ludwick lined out softly to third for a double play as Moseley strayed off the bag.

“Just a bonehead move,” Moseley said. “The whole time I’m telling myself, ‘Be careful here, get back, Molina’s got a good arm.’ “

Garcia was third in NL Rookie of Year voting last season after going 13-8 with a 2.70 ERA even though the Cardinals shut him down in mid-September as a precaution, given he didn’t pitch much the previous year coming off elbow surgery. He was 1-3 with a 6.26 ERA in six starts in spring training, including a March 24 flop in which he yielded 14 hits and 10 runs in four innings against the Mets.

Lance Berkman singled to begin the fifth and advanced on a groundout before Molina stroked a single through the box, halting a 1-for-9 start. Berkman was the Cardinals’ only runner in scoring position against Moseley.

The Padres’ last sweep against the Cardinals was in 1995 in San Diego and they haven’t beaten the Cardinals three straight since 2006. Their last season-opening sweep was a two-gamer in 1984 at home against the Pirates. They haven’t opened the season with a three-game sweep since April 8-10, 1969, their inaugural season, at home against the Houston Astros.

Notes

• The game was the second-fastest at 6-year-old Busch Stadium, trailing only a 3-1 Cardinals victory in 1:54 over the Pirates on Sept. 9, 2006.
• The Padres’ 11-3 victory Saturday was their first time scoring in double digits at St. Louis since Aug. 29, 2001.
• Padres OF Eric Patterson, on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring, played outfield for the first time Sunday and LHP Joe Thatcher (shoulder) threw off a bullpen mound on Saturday.
• The teams combined for 11 hits, all singles.

Dustin Moseley was almost as good as Jaime Garcia.

While falling short of their first series sweep in St. Louis since 1980, the San Diego Padres found an arm they can count on in Sunday’s 2-0 loss to the Cardinals. Moseley allowed one run on four hits in seven strong innings in his Padres debut, filling in for injured ace Mat Latos.

“He threw great,” manager Bud Black said. “He’s a guy as the season unfolds who could be very valuable to us in any role.

“He’s got the versatility to start and the resiliency and the arm and the experience as a reliever if we need him there as well.”

Garcia threw a four-hitter with a career-best nine strikeouts, moving beyond a shaky spring as the Cardinals avoided a season-opening three-game sweep at home.

Yadier Molina’s RBI single up the middle off Moseley (0-1) in the fifth was the difference for St. Louis, which hasn’t been swept by the Padres at home since 1980. San Diego missed a chance to open 3-0 for only the fourth time in franchise history and the first time since the 1984 team that went on to win the NL pennant.

“That was a good fastball away and he stayed on it enough,” Moseley said. “I almost got to it and it got under my glove, and there’s your run.”

Latos, on the 15-day disabled list with a shoulder injury, is schedule to throw an extended simulated game on Monday in Arizona and a side session two days later. He could rejoin the rotation next weekend.

The 29-year-old Moseley was 4-4 last year for the Yankees, and like Garcia shook off a poor spring. Moseley was 0-2 with a 6.36 ERA in six games, including four starts.

“We had a good plan and we stuck with it and it worked out for me,” Moseley said. “I was throwing everything for strikes, just mixing it up. You’ve got to, they’ve got a good lineup.”

Garcia (1-0) walked two in his second career shutout and the majors’ first this season, needing only 102 pitches in a game that lasted 2 hours, 3 minutes.

He struck out the side in the second against the 4-5-6 hitters. Starting with Chris Denorfia’s double-play ball in the seventh, the left-hander retired his final eight hitters.

The Padres loaded the bases with one out in the sixth on two hits and a walk, including Moseley’s first career hit, but Moseley was doubled off third on Ryan Ludwick’s soft liner to third.

Ryan Theriot added an RBI single in the eighth off Luke Gregorson for St. Louis.

Garcia was third in NL Rookie of Year voting last season after going 13-8 with a 2.70 ERA. He was 1-3 with a 6.26 ERA in six starts in spring training, including a March 24 flop in which he yielded 14 hits and 10 runs in four innings against the Mets.

Lance Berkman singled to begin the fifth and advanced on a wild pitch and groundout before Molina stroked a single through the box, halting a 1-for-9 start. Berkman was the Cardinals’ only runner in scoring position against Moseley.

The Padres’ last sweep against the Cardinals was in 1995 in San Diego and they haven’t beaten the Cardinals three straight since 2006. Their last season-opening sweep was a two-gamer in 1984 at home against the Pirates. They haven’t opened the season with a three-game sweep since April 8-10, 1969, their inaugural season, at home against the Houston Astros.

NOTES: The game was the second-fastest at six-year-old Busch Stadium, trailing only a 3-1 Cardinals victory in 1:54 over the Pirates on Sept. 9, 2006. … The Padres’ 11-3 victory Saturday was their first time scoring in double digits at St. Louis since Aug. 29, 2001. … Padres OF Eric Patterson, on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring, played outfield for the first time Sunday and LHP Joe Thatcher (shoulder) threw off a bullpen mound on Saturday.

Jaime Garcia threw a four-hitter with a career-best nine strikeouts, moving beyond a shaky spring as the St. Louis Cardinals avoided a season-opening sweep at home with a 2-0 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday.

Yadier Molina’s RBI single up the middle off Dustin Moseley (0-1) in the fifth inning was the difference for St. Louis, which hasn’t been swept by the Padres at home since 1980. Moseley allowed only four hits in seven strong innings for San Diego, which missed a chance to open 3-0 for only the fourth time in franchise history and the first time since the 1984 team that went on to win the NL pennant.

Garcia (1-0) walked two in his second career shutout and the majors’ first this season, needing only 102 pitches in a game that lasted 2 hours, 3 minutes.

He struck out the side in the second against the 4-5-6 hitters. Starting with Chris Denorfia’s double-play ball in the seventh, the left-hander retired his final eight hitters.

The Padres loaded the bases with one out in the sixth on two hits and a walk, including Moseley’s first career hit, before Ryan Ludwick lined out softly to third for a double play.

Ryan Theriot added an RBI single in the eighth off Luke Gregorson for St. Louis.

Garcia was third in NL Rookie of Year voting last season after going 13-8 with a 2.70 ERA. He was 1-3 with a 6.26 ERA in six starts in spring training, including a March 24 flop in which he yielded 14 hits and 10 runs in four innings against the Mets.

Lance Berkman singled to begin the fifth and advanced on a groundout before Molina stroked a single through the box, halting a 1-for-9 start. Berkman was the Cardinals’ only runner in scoring position against Moseley.

The Padres’ last sweep against the Cardinals was in 1995 in San Diego and they haven’t beaten the Cardinals three straight since 2006. Their last season-opening sweep was a two-gamer in 1984 at home against the Pirates. They haven’t opened the season with a three-game sweep since April 8-10, 1969, their inaugural season, at home against the Houston Astros.

NOTES: The game was the second-fastest at 6-year-old Busch Stadium, trailing only a 3-1 Cardinals victory in 1:54 over the Pirates on Sept. 9, 2006. … The Padres’ 11-3 victory Saturday was their first time scoring in double digits at St. Louis since Aug. 29, 2001. … Padres OF Eric Patterson, on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring, played outfield for the first time Sunday and LHP Joe Thatcher (shoulder) threw off a bullpen mound on Saturday.

Jaime Garcia threw a four-hitter with a career-best nine strikeouts, moving beyond a shaky spring as the St. Louis Cardinals avoided a season-opening sweep at home with a 2-0 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday.

Yadier Molina’s RBI single up the middle off Dustin Moseley (0-1) in the fifth inning was the difference for St. Louis, which hasn’t been swept by the Padres at home since 1980. Moseley allowed only four hits in seven strong innings for San Diego, which missed a chance to open 3-0 for only the fourth time in franchise history and the first time since the 1984 team that went on to win the NL pennant.

Garcia (1-0) walked two in his second career shutout and the majors’ first this season, needing only 102 pitches in a game that lasted 2 hours, 3 minutes.

He struck out the side in the second against the 4-5-6 hitters. Starting with Chris Denorfia’s double-play ball in the seventh, the left-hander retired his final eight hitters.

The Padres loaded the bases with one out in the sixth on two hits and a walk, including Moseley’s first career hit, before Ryan Ludwick lined out softly to third for a double play.

Ryan Theriot added an RBI single in the eighth off Luke Gregorson for St. Louis.

Garcia was third in NL Rookie of Year voting last season after going 13-8 with a 2.70 ERA. He was 1-3 with a 6.26 ERA in six starts in spring training, including a March 24 flop in which he yielded 14 hits and 10 runs in four innings against the Mets.

Lance Berkman singled to begin the fifth and advanced on a groundout before Molina stroked a single through the box, halting a 1-for-9 start. Berkman was the Cardinals’ only runner in scoring position against Moseley.

The Padres’ last sweep against the Cardinals was in 1995 in San Diego and they haven’t beaten the Cardinals three straight since 2006. Their last season-opening sweep was a two-gamer in 1984 at home against the Pirates. They haven’t opened the season with a three-game sweep since April 8-10, 1969, their inaugural season, at home against the Houston Astros.

NOTES: The game was the second-fastest at 6-year-old Busch Stadium, trailing only a 3-1 Cardinals victory in 1:54 over the Pirates on Sept. 9, 2006. … The Padres’ 11-3 victory Saturday was their first time scoring in double digits at St. Louis since Aug. 29, 2001. … Padres OF Eric Patterson, on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring, played outfield for the first time Sunday and LHP Joe Thatcher (shoulder) threw off a bullpen mound on Saturday.

Read More: Dustin Moseley (P – SDP), Jaime Garcia (P – STL), Yadier Molina (C – STL), Ryan Theriot (SS – STL), San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres

Jaime Garcia know how to cure what ailed the St. Louis Cardinals Sunday afternoon, averting a bullpen catastrophe by throwing nine shutout innings to put the Cardinals past the San Diego Padres in the last game of the Opening Week series by a final score of 2-0. Yadier Molina and Ryan Theriot drove in runs in the victory; Dustin Moseley was the hard-luck loser, pitching seven inning and allowing just four hits and an unearned run.

Garcia struck out nine and walked two after a Spring Training line that had a lot of fans worried about his immediate future. His one rough inning was salvaged when Ryan Ludwick hit a bases-loaded line drive at third baseman Daniel Descalso, who caught the ball on the fly and ducked down to tag the base for an unassisted double play.

The Cardinals will begin their tour of the National League Central tomorrow, taking on the Pittsburgh Pirates for a three game series at home before taking on the Giants in San Francisco over the weekend. The Padres take a day off tomorrow before returning to San Diego for a two-game set against those same Giants.

For postgame reaction and analysis be sure to check out SB Nation’s Cardinals blog, Viva El Birdos.

(Sports Network) – The San Diego Padres will try to do something they haven’t done since their first year of existence, as they try and complete a three-game season-opening sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals this afternoon at Busch Stadium.

The Padres haven’t swept the Cards in a three-game set in St. Louis since 1980, but haven’t opened a campaign with a three-game sweep since turning the trick on the Houston Astros from April 8-10, 1969 – the club’s inaugural season.

San Diego actually started their NL championship season of 1984 with a sweep, but it was a two-gamer against Pittsburgh.

The Padres moved into this position on Saturday, as Chase Headley finished 2- for-5 with four RBI, including a two-run homer in the ninth, helping San Diego to an 11-3 win.

Nick Hundley added two RBI in a 2-for-4 effort while starter Clayton Richard (1-0) went six innings, allowing three runs on five hits and striking out three.

Allen Craig hit a two-run single in the first for the Cardinals, and Albert Pujols shrugged off an 0-for-5 effort in the season-opener by finishing 2- for-4 with a solo shot in the third inning.

Jake Westbrook (0-1), who was trying to rebound from a rough spring, was tagged for eight runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings. He walked five batters and struck out only three in the loss.

“(Westbrook) made some great pitches all day, then all of a sudden he made some uncharacteristic walks and he just missed the zone by quite a bit,” Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. “That’s not him when he’s sharp.”

Today, the Padres will turn to newly-acquired right-hander Dustin Moseley, who was 4-4 with a 4.96 ERA for the New York Yankees in 16 appearances (nine starts).

This will be his first-ever start against the Cards, but he has faced them twice out of the bullpen, allowing a run and three hits in 1 2/3 frames.

St. Louis, meanwhile, will counter with left-hander Jaime Garcia, who was impressive as a rookie last season, leading all Cardinals starters with a 2.70, while going 13-8.

Garcia, who finished third in NL Rookie of the Year voting, pitched to a 6.26 ERA this spring.

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

The Sports Network

ST. LOUIS (AP) — One more win, and the San Diego Padres have their first season-opening sweep since 1984. Patience at the plate got them to this point.

Pitcher Clayton Richard had two RBI to match his career high without getting the ball out of the infield and pitched six solid innings in an 11-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals yesterday. The Padres broke it open with a six-run fifth that included four hits, four walks and a sacrifice fly.

“We did a really good job of working” Jake “Westbrook,” Chase Headley said. “By guys laying off and having tough at-bats, even if they were making outs, they were taking five, six, seven or eight pitches, and that takes its toll over the course of time.”

Albert Pujols homered on the 10th anniversary of his major league debut and Allen Craig, subbing for ailing Matt Holliday, had a two-run single for the Cardinals. St. Louis led 2-0 after one inning and 3-2 after three, but Westbrook (0-1) was knocked out after retiring only one of six batters in the Padres’ six-run sixth.

“I’m concerned about everything all the time, so you don’t get surprised,” Manager Tony La Russa said. “I’m concerned about everybody.”

Headley had a career-best-tying four RBI, including a two-run homer in the ninth for the Padres, who are 6-14 at six-year-old Busch Stadium but clinched their first series win in St. Louis since September 2006.

The Padres’ last sweep to open the season was a two-gamer in 1984 at home against the Pirates. They haven’t opened the season with a three-game sweep since April 8-10, 1969, their inaugural season, at home against the Houston Astros.

Cardinals pitchers totaled eight walks, two of them intentional but also two with the bases loaded.

Three of the Cardinals’ five hits off Richard (1-0) came in a first capped by Craig’s two-run single. The only other damage came from Pujols’ first hit of the season, a drive into the visitors’ bullpen leading off the third.

Copyright 2011 Columbia Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

ST. LOUIS — One more win, and the San Diego Padres have their first season-opening sweep since 1984. Patience at the plate got them to this point.

Pitcher Clayton Richard had two RBI to match his career high without getting the ball out of the infield and pitched six solid innings in an 11-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday. The Padres broke it open with a six-run fifth that included four hits, four walks and a sacrifice fly.

“We did a really good job of working (Jake) Westbrook,” Chase Headley said. “By guys laying off and having tough at-bats, even if they were making outs, they were taking five, six, seven or eight pitches and that takes its toll over the course of time.

“We waited them out,” Headley added.

Albert Pujols homered on the 10th anniversary of his major league debut and Allen Craig, subbing for ailing Matt Holliday, had a two-run single for the Cardinals. St. Louis led 2-0 after one inning and 3-2 after three but Westbrook (0-1) was knocked out after retiring only one of six batters in the Padres’ six-run sixth.

“I’m concerned about everything all the time, so you don’t get surprised,” manager Tony La Russa said. “I’m concerned about everybody.”

Headley had a career best-tying four RBI, including a two-run homer in the ninth for the Padres, who are 6-14 at 6-year-old Busch Stadium but clinched their first series win in St. Louis since September 2006. They’ll go for their first three-game sweep in St. Louis since May 23-25, 1980, on Sunday with Dustin Moseley facing Jaime Garcia, third in NL rookie of year voting but coming off a rough spring.

The Padres’ last sweep to open the season was a two-gamer in 1984 at home against the Pirates. They haven’t opened the season with a three-game sweep since April 8-10, 1969, their inaugural season, at home against the Houston Astros.

“The Cardinals have always played the Padres extremely tough here,” manager Bud Black said. “There’s a long ways to go and it’s only two games.”

Cardinals pitchers totaled eight walks, two of them intentional but also two with the bases loaded.

Three of the Cardinals’ five hits off Richard (1-0) came in a first capped by Craig’s two-run single. The only other damage came from Pujols’ first hit of the season, a drive into the visitors’ bullpen leading off the third put St. Louis ahead 3-2 and ended an 0-for-6 start that featured a career-worst three double-play balls in the opener.

“It was a home run pitch,” Richard said. “It was a backdoor cutter slash slider and he hit it good. After that, we did. He hit it good. After that, we all did well. I threw more strikes and the bullpen did a great job after I left. They threw well.

Richard, who had entered 2-9 with a 5.63 on the road, allowed only two baserunners the rest of his outing.

Richard has nine career RBIs, including three two-run games. His perfectly executed squeeze bunt tied it at 2 in the second and Jason Motte walked him on four pitches for the fifth run in the Padres’ fifth.

“I was waiting until I got a strike,” Richard said. “He didn’t throw me one and I got the walk. That was good.”

A pair of infield hits, a sacrifice and an intentional walk loaded the bases in the fifth ahead of Ryan Ludwick’s five-pitch run-scoring walk to snap a 3-all tie and Headley’s two-run single chased Westbrook. The right-hander walked five, one below his career worst, and four of them produced runs.

“I guess there’s some comfort in knowing I wasn’t getting hit around a whole lot,” Westbrook said. “But it’s still not the pitcher I am.”

San Diego was 3-6 to start the 2010 season, in which it was eliminated on the final day of the season.

Notes

• Padres RHP Mat Latos, on the DL with a shoulder injury, threw out of the bullpen. He’s scheduled to throw an extended simulated game Monday in Arizona and could join the rotation in a week or so.
• Nick Hundley has a pair of two-hit games to open the year and had two RBIs Saturday.
• Despite the poor start, the Cardinals have the major leagues’ best record in the opening month since 2006 at 76-50 (.603).
• Westbrook entered 2-1 with an 0.55 ERA in four career appearances against the Padres, three of them starts.

Updated Apr 2, 2011 8:21 PM ET

ST. LOUIS (AP)

One more win, and the San Diego Padres have their first season-opening sweep since 1984. Patience at the plate got them to this point.

Pitcher Clayton Richard had two RBIs to match his career high without getting the ball out of the infield and pitched six solid innings in an 11-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday. The Padres broke it open with a six-run fifth that included four hits, four walks and a sacrifice fly.

”We did a really good job of working (Jake) Westbrook,” Chase Headley said. ”By guys laying off and having tough at-bats, even if they were making outs, they were taking five, six, seven or eight pitches and that takes its toll over the course of time.

”We waited them out,” Headley added.

Albert Pujols homered on the 10th anniversary of his major league debut and Allen Craig, subbing for ailing Matt Holliday, had a two-run single for the Cardinals. St. Louis led 2-0 after one inning and 3-2 after three but Westbrook (0-1) was knocked out after retiring only one of six batters in the Padres’ six-run sixth.

”I’m concerned about everything all the time, so you don’t get surprised,” manager Tony La Russa said. ”I’m concerned about everybody.”

Headley had a career best-tying four RBIs, including a two-run homer in the ninth for the Padres, who are 6-14 at 6-year-old Busch Stadium but clinched their first series win in St. Louis since September 2006. They’ll go for their first three-game sweep in St. Louis since June 23-25, 1980, on Sunday with Dustin Moseley facing Jaime Garcia, third in NL rookie of year voting but coming off a rough spring.

The Padres’ last sweep to open the season was a two-gamer in 1984 at home against the Pirates. They haven’t opened the season with a three-game sweep since April 8-10, 1969, their inaugural season, at home against the Houston Astros.

”The Cardinals have always played the Padres extremely tough here,” manager Bud Black said. ”There’s a long ways to go and it’s only two games.”

Cardinals pitchers totaled eight walks, two of them intentional but also two with the bases loaded.

Three of the Cardinals’ five hits off Richard (1-0) came in a first capped by Craig’s two-run single. The only other damage came from Pujols’ first hit of the season, a drive into the visitors’ bullpen leading off the third put St. Louis ahead 3-2 and ended an 0-for-6 start that featured a career-worst three double-play balls in the opener.

”It was a home run pitch,” Richard said. ”It was a backdoor cutter slash slider and he hit it good. After that, we did. He hit it good. After that, we all did well. I threw more strikes and the bullpen did a great job after I left. They threw well.

Richard, who had entered 2-9 with a 5.63 on the road, allowed only two baserunners the rest of his outing.

Richard has nine career RBIs, including three two-run games. His perfectly executed squeeze bunt tied it at 2 in the second and Jason Motte walked him on four pitches for the fifth run in the Padres’ fifth.

”I was waiting until I got a strike,” Richard said. ”He didn’t throw me one and I got the walk. That was good.”

A pair of infield hits, a sacrifice and an intentional walk loaded the bases in the fifth ahead of Ryan Ludwick’s five-pitch run-scoring walk to snap a 3-all tie and Headley’s two-run single chased Westbrook. The right-hander walked five, one below his career worst, and four of them produced runs.

”I guess there’s some comfort in knowing I wasn’t getting hit around a whole lot,” Westbrook said. ”But it’s still not the pitcher I am.”

San Diego was 3-6 to start the 2010 season, in which it was eliminated on the final day of the season.

NOTES: Padres RHP Mat Latos, on the DL with a shoulder injury, threw out of the bullpen. He’s scheduled to throw an extended simulated game Monday in Arizona and could join the rotation in a week or so. … Nick Hundley has a pair of two-hit games to open the year and had two RBIs Saturday. … Despite the poor start, the Cardinals have the major leagues’ best record in the opening month since 2006 at 76-50 (.603). … Westbrook entered 2-1 with an 0.55 ERA in four career appearances against the Padres, three of them starts.

Down two stars, the St. Louis Cardinals lost big-time.

Clayton Richard had two RBIs to match his career high without getting the ball out of the infield and pitched six solid innings in the San Diego Padres’ 11-3 victory on Saturday.

Albert Pujols homered on the 10th anniversary of his major league debut and Allen Craig, subbing for ailing Matt Holliday, had a two-run single for the Cardinals. St. Louis led 2-0 after one inning and 3-2 after three but Jake Westbrook (0-1) was knocked out after retiring only one of six batters in the Padres’ six-run sixth.

Even though Holliday is expected back in a week or so after undergoing an appendectomy on Friday, it’s another hit for a team that lost 20-game winner Adam Wainwright to reconstructive elbow surgery in February.

“You can’t think about Matt because he’s out of the lineup. Everybody knows that,” Pujols said. “We need to go out there and those nine guys that Tony (La Russa) puts in the lineup, those are the guys that are going to do the job.”

Chase Headley had a career best-tying four RBIs, including a two-run homer in the ninth for the Padres, who are 6-14 at 6-year-old Busch Stadium but clinched their first series win in St. Louis since September 2006. They’ll go for their first three-game sweep in St. Louis since May 23-25, 1980, on Sunday with Dustin Moseley facing Jaime Garcia, third in NL rookie of year voting but coming off a rough spring.

Cardinals pitchers totaled eight walks, two of them intentional but also two with the bases loaded.

Three of the Cardinals’ five hits off Richard (1-0) came in a first capped by Craig’s two-run single. The only other damage came from Pujols’ first hit of the season, a drive into the visitors’ bullpen leading off the third put St. Louis ahead 3-2 and ended an 0-for-6 start that featured a career-worst three double play balls in the opener.

Richard, who had entered 2-9 with a 5.63 ERA on the road, allowed only two baserunners the rest of his outing.

Richard has nine career RBIs, including three two-run games. His perfectly executed squeeze bunt tied it at 2 in the second and Jason Motte walked him on four pitches for the fifth run in the Padres’ fifth.

A pair of infield hits, a sacrifice and an intentional walk loaded the bases in the fifth ahead of Ryan Ludwick’s five-pitch, run-scoring walk to snap a 3-all tie and Headley’s two-run single chased Westbrook, whose five walks were one off his career worst.

“I feel great. It’s just a matter of finding it, harnessing it and being more consistent,” Westbrook said. “I was very excited but I’ve played long enough to where I was able to harness it.

“I wasn’t too amped up, but bottom line I wasn’t able to get the job done.”

San Diego was 3-6 to start the 2010 season, in which it was eliminated on the final day of the season.

NOTES: Padres RHP Mat Latos, on the DL with a shoulder injury, threw out of the bullpen and is scheduled to throw a simulated game Monday in Arizona. … Nick Hundley has a pair of two-hit games to open the year and had two RBIs Saturday. … Despite the poor start, the Cardinals have the major leagues’ best record in the opening month since 2006 at 76-50 (.603). … Pujols has homered in the first or second game of the season the last three years.

Down two stars, the St. Louis Cardinals lost big-time.

Clayton Richard had two RBIs to match his career high without getting the ball out of the infield and pitched six solid innings in the San Diego Padres’ 11-3 victory on Saturday.

Albert Pujols homered on the 10th anniversary of his major league debut and Allen Craig, subbing for ailing Matt Holliday, had a two-run single for the Cardinals. St. Louis led 2-0 after one inning and 3-2 after three but Jake Westbrook (0-1) was knocked out after retiring only one of six batters in the Padres’ six-run sixth.

Even though Holliday is expected back in a week or so after undergoing an appendectomy on Friday, it’s another hit for a team that lost 20-game winner Adam Wainwright to reconstructive elbow surgery in February.

“You can’t think about Matt because he’s out of the lineup. Everybody knows that,” Pujols said. “We need to go out there and those nine guys that Tony (La Russa) puts in the lineup, those are the guys that are going to do the job.”

Chase Headley had a career best-tying four RBIs, including a two-run homer in the ninth for the Padres, who are 6-14 at 6-year-old Busch Stadium but clinched their first series win in St. Louis since September 2006. They’ll go for their first three-game sweep in St. Louis since May 23-25, 1980, on Sunday with Dustin Moseley facing Jaime Garcia, third in NL rookie of year voting but coming off a rough spring.

Cardinals pitchers totaled eight walks, two of them intentional but also two with the bases loaded.

Three of the Cardinals’ five hits off Richard (1-0) came in a first capped by Craig’s two-run single. The only other damage came from Pujols’ first hit of the season, a drive into the visitors’ bullpen leading off the third put St. Louis ahead 3-2 and ended an 0-for-6 start that featured a career-worst three double play balls in the opener.

Richard, who had entered 2-9 with a 5.63 ERA on the road, allowed only two baserunners the rest of his outing.

Richard has nine career RBIs, including three two-run games. His perfectly executed squeeze bunt tied it at 2 in the second and Jason Motte walked him on four pitches for the fifth run in the Padres’ fifth.

A pair of infield hits, a sacrifice and an intentional walk loaded the bases in the fifth ahead of Ryan Ludwick’s five-pitch, run-scoring walk to snap a 3-all tie and Headley’s two-run single chased Westbrook, whose five walks were one off his career worst.

“I feel great. It’s just a matter of finding it, harnessing it and being more consistent,” Westbrook said. “I was very excited but I’ve played long enough to where I was able to harness it.

“I wasn’t too amped up, but bottom line I wasn’t able to get the job done.”

San Diego was 3-6 to start the 2010 season, in which it was eliminated on the final day of the season.

NOTES: Padres RHP Mat Latos, on the DL with a shoulder injury, threw out of the bullpen and is scheduled to throw a simulated game Monday in Arizona. … Nick Hundley has a pair of two-hit games to open the year and had two RBIs Saturday. … Despite the poor start, the Cardinals have the major leagues’ best record in the opening month since 2006 at 76-50 (.603). … Pujols has homered in the first or second game of the season the last three years.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals decided not to put Matt Holliday on the disabled list Saturday, opting to wait a few days to see if the slugger can make a speedy return from an appendectomy.

The left fielder had the surgery Friday but the team believes the condition was caught early and he could be back before the end of a 15-day DL stint.

Manager Tony La Russa said the team would wait until Monday or Tuesday, hinting that Holliday might even stop by Busch Stadium on Saturday.

General manager John Mozeliak said Holliday would have no baseball activities for five days, and said early indications were positive.

“They’re saying it went well,” La Russa said. “That’s all I know so far.”

Losing Holliday for a longer period would be another huge early blow to the franchise, after 20-game winner Adam Wainwright underwent reconstructive elbow surgery early in spring training.

“Wainwright, that’s a totally different discussion,” Mozeliak said. “Whenever you lose somebody for the entire season, especially of his caliber, you reel from it, but we’ve all moved on from that.

“You take things in stride. It’s disappointing, but in my job you just have to think of what the next move is.”

David Freese batted in Holliday’s cleanup spot Saturday against San Diego Padres left-hander Clayton Richard, and Allen Craig played in left field. La Russa said he’d likely move Lance Berkman, a switch hitter who’s been more productive batting left-handed in recent seasons, up from fifth to cleanup against right-handed pitchers while Holliday is out.

Albert Pujols said he spoke with Holliday before the laparoscopic procedure and was optimistic he’d be back soon.

“Obviously, his presence is going to be missed,” Pujols said. “When you look at that lineup, you’re expecting Matt to be there, and he won’t be there probably for the next week or so.”

Craig, who was batting sixth, and Jon Jay will get the bulk of the playing time. Craig has long been considered one of the franchise’s best offensive prospects, but has struggled in a bench role.

“I think that’s tough for anybody,” Craig said. “We always want to be in the lineup and be playing every day and it’s easier to make adjustments. But it’s part of my job, and part of the job for all the guys that aren’t playing a lot, to be ready.”

Craig got work at third base in spring training as a backup option for Freese, who is coming off surgery on both ankles last season. Craig doesn’t care where the Cardinals put him.

Craig started at all four corner positions last year, with 23 of his 27 starts in right field, two in left field and one each at first base and third. La Russa said Berkman would stay in right.

“It’s good to be good at a bunch of positions,” Craig said. “Then they can put you in the lineup wherever they need you.”

Freese batted cleanup once last year as a rookie, going 0 for 4 at Pittsburgh May 9. La Russa batted Freese fourth in spring games when Holliday had the day off.

As anyone who read his classic Answer Man session last year knows, San Diego Padres closer Heath Bell(notes) revels in being a mischievous and immature kid at heart. After notching the save in Thursday’s 5-3 extra-innings win over the St. Louis Cardinals, Bell was at his sophomoric best during a postgame television interview with the day’s big hero receiving the brunt of the joke.

Sorry, Cameron Maybin(notes). Take it away, Heath …

A little background: Maybin, the Padres’ new center fielder, hit a two-out homer in the ninth inning to tie the game and send it into extra innings. His single in the 11th then moved the g0-ahead run to third, but he came up limping around first base and was replaced by a pinch runner.  Nothing major, just a few cramps.

Yes, cramps. And yet was all that Bell needed to take a usually stale interview format and turn it on its ear while giving his new teammate a little bit of off-color grief.

Nice to hear that Dick Enberg can still roll with the punches, too.

Big BLS H/N: Gaslamp Ball

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Related: Cameron Maybin, Heath Bell, San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals, ModernTube, Opening day 2011

(Sports Network) – The St. Louis Cardinals won’t have Matt Holliday in their lineup this afternoon or the forseeable future, as they resume their season- opening three-game series against the San Diego Padres at Busch Stadium.

St. Louis announced on Friday that the outfielder was to undergo an appendectomy Friday and that there was no timetable for his return.

The Holliday news comes on the heels of heartbreaking loss on Opening Day for the Cardinals, who watched closer Ryan Franklin blow a one-run lead in the ninth before losing 5-3 in 11 innings.

Cameron Maybin tied the game in the ninth for San Diego with a solo home run then hit a 2-1 sinker to right field in the 11th to set Chase Headley in motion. Headley started from first and advanced to third on the hit, then raced home when Cardinals shortstop Ryan Theriot mishandled the throw from the outfield, giving the Padres a 4-3 lead.

San Diego tacked on another run after that and Heath Bell closed it out in the 11th. Pat Neshek (1-0) earned the win for getting through the 10th unscathed.

“I noticed the ball got through when I was going from first to third,” Headley said. “I saw the ball was going to bounce and I took a little shuffle, and when I saw the kick I just made a play and was fortunate to get in there.”

Bryan Augenstein (0-1) got the loss for allowing two runs on three hits in the 11th.

Holliday actually went 3-for-4 with two RBI in the loss, while Albert Pujols, who may have started his final Opening Day in a Cardinals uniform, ended 0- for-5 and grounded into three double plays.

Getting the call for the Padres this afternoon will be Clayton Richard, who made a career-best 33 starts last season, going 14-9 with a 3.75 earned run average over 201 1/3 innings pitched.

Richard’s season was highlighted by an 8-1 stretch from June 25-August 24.

Opposing him will be veteran right-hander Jake Westbrook, who was 4-4 with a 3.48 ERA in 12 starts for the Cardinals last season after being acquired from Cleveland at the trade deadline. He had been 4-8 with a 6.55 ERA in 18 starts for the Tribe.

Westbrook, though, was roughed up this spring, surrendering 12 runs in 24 1/3 innings.

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

The Sports Network