Ryan Ludwick and Matt Stairs hit back-to-back home runs in the top of the ninth inning, lifting the San Diego Padres to an 8-4 triumph over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Will Venable and David Eckstein each collected three hits and an RBI for the Padres, who ended an 11-game losing streak at Busch Stadium.

San Diego, which entered the day one-half game behind first-place San Francisco in the National League West, watched a two-run lead in the seventh slip away before erupting for four in the ninth to claim its first victory at St. Louis since August 7, 2007.

Eckstein led off with a single and moved to second on a groundout before Adrian Gonzalez was walked intentionally. Ludwick then deposited an 0-1 pitch from Kyle McClellan (1-4) over the left field wall for his 16th blast of the season and a 7-4 advantage.

Batting for winning pitcher Mike Adams (4-1), Stairs followed with his fifth homer of the year and record 23rd career as a pinch-hitter.

Adams tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings and Heath Bell worked a perfect ninth to seal the win.

San Diego staged a three-run rally in the seventh to take a 4-2 lead, with Venable, Miguel Tejada and Gonzalez hitting RBI singles. But the Padres were unable to remain in front for long as Colby Rasmus and Pedro Feliz each plated a run with a base hit to knot the contest.

Making his first start since April 6 due to a strained right shoulder, Young allowed one run and three hits in four innings. The 31-year-old walked three and struck out three while throwing 41 of 69 pitches for strikes.