Tatis and Merrill combine for 4 RBIs as the Padres beat the Cardinals
6-1
[June 18, 2026]
By WARREN MAYES
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill
each drove in two runs and finished with three hits as the San Diego
Padres avoided a series sweep with a 6-1 win over the St. Louis
Cardinals on Wednesday.
Tatis, who also stole a base, is 17 for 48 (.354) with four doubles and
a home run in his last 11 games. Merrill highlighted his three-hit
effort with a two-run homer in the ninth inning, his eighth of the
season. |
St. Louis Cardinals Masyn Winn, right, is out at second after San Diego
Padres Will Wagner, left, tags him during the sixth inning of a baseball
game, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Lexie Knight) |
|
San Diego pounded out 14 hits, but went 4 for 14 with runners in
scoring position and left 10 runners on base. In consecutive
losses to St. Louis, the Padres had scored just two runs and
managed five total hits.
Griffin Canning (1-5) worked 4 1/3 innings, allowing four hits
and a run in relief. It was his sixth career relief appearance.
He has made eight starts this season. Bradgley Rodriguez started
the second bullpen game of the series for the Padres. He pitched
the first inning.
Kyle Leahy (5-4) pitched six innings in taking the loss as the
Cardinals had their six-game home winning streak halted.
Merrill singled in the first inning, sending Samad Taylor to
third. Manny Machado’s sacrifice fly scored Taylor, giving the
Padres a 1-0 lead.
San Diego made it 2-0 in the fourth inning when Xander Bogaerts’
one-out RBI single scored Machado, who led off the inning with a
double.
The Padres extended their lead to 3-0 in the fifth on an RBI
double by Tatis. His run-scoring single in the ninth accounted
for the final run.
St. Louis cut San Diego's lead to 3-1 when Alec Burleson
extended his hitting streak to 17 games with an RBI single in
the fifth.
Up next
Padres: After an off day Thursday, San Diego sends RHP Randy
Vásquez (6-4, 3.63 ERA) against the Rangers on Friday. Texas has
not named a starter.
Cardinals: LHP Matthew Liberatore (3-3, 4.71 ERA) takes on
Royals LHP Noah Cameron (3-4, 4.11) in Kansas City on Thursday.
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