San Diego return off to bad start
Paddack gives up six runs and club could be eliminated Thursday
San Diego Paul Goldschmidt hit a tworun home run during a four-run first inning, St. Louis’ bullpen held strong after starter Kwang Hyun Kim stumbled in his playoff debut and the Cardinals ruined the San Diego Padres’ long-awaited return to the playoffs with a 7-4 victory Wednesday in the opener of their NL wild-card series.
The Cardinals need one more win to eliminate the Padres from the postseason for the fourth time since 1996. They swept the Padres in the NL Division Series in 1996 and 2005, and won 3-1 in 2006, which was the last time San Diego made the postseason. Game 2 is Thursday.
The Cardinals got a chance to catch their breath with two days off before this series began. That came after a season-closing
grind that saw them play 53 games in 44 days, including 11 doubleheaders, with only two days off. The team had its season suspended for 14 games from late July to mid-august after 10 players and eight staff members tested positive for COVID -19 and had to scramble to fit in the makeups.
Right-hander Chris Paddack (0-1) failed to give the Padres the boost they desperately needed after Mike Clevinger and Dinelson Lamet were left off the wild-card roster due to injuries suffered in their final regularseason starts.
Paddack lasted only 21⁄ in
3 nings and gave up six runs.
After retiring leadoff batter Kolten Wong, Paddack allowed the next five batters to reach. San Diego native Tommy Edman singled and Goldschmidt homered to left. Dylan Carlson doubled, Yadier Molina hit an RBI single and Paul Dejong doubled before Matt Carpenter hit a sacrifice fly.
Paddack allowed three straight hits to open the third, including Dejong ’s RBI single, before being replaced by Matt Strahm. Carpenter added an RBI single for a 6-2 lead.
Paddack allowed eight hits, struck out one and walked none.
Giovanny Gallegos (1-0) pitched 11⁄ innings and Alex
3
Reyes got the last four outs for the save. Five relievers combined for 51⁄ innings, allowing
3 three hits and an unearned run.