Right-hander Adam Wainwright struck out nine while holding the Padres to one run over six innings and Paul DeJong hit a go-ahead two-run double in the fourth as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated San Diego 4-1 on Sunday afternoon to avoid being swept in their first series of the season at Busch Stadium.

The Cardinals added single runs in the seventh and eighth, respectively, on Matt Carpenter's sacrifice fly and Kolten Wong's squeeze-bunt single, to end the Padres' three-game winning streak. San Diego was seeking its first three-game sweep in St. Louis since 1980.

Wainwright (1-0), who gave up four runs in four innings in his first 2019 start after making only eight starts last year due to elbow and hamstring injuries, allowed five hits and no walks while throwing 100 pitches. Jordan Hicks, hitting triple digits with his fastball, got a four-out save with three strikeouts.

Padres left-hander Matt Strahm (0-2) took the loss despite allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts in five innings.

The Padres took a 1-0 lead in the third on a double by Manuel Margot and an RBI single by Eric Hosmer.

Strahm had faced the minimum nine hitters through three innings. But after Strahm walked Carpenter to open the fourth, Paul Goldschmidt followed with a high fly down the line in left that Padres left fielder Hunter Renfroe let drop for a two-base error. DeJong followed with a two-run double past Renfroe in left-center.

Wong and Jose Martinez opened the Cardinals seventh with back-to-back singles off reliever Adam Warren, putting runners at first and third to set up Carpenter's sacrifice fly to center.

Yadier Molina opened the eighth with his third hit, a single, and moved to third as Harrison Bader was tagged out in a rundown between first and second after singling. Wong then laid down a perfect bunt against Padres lefty Robbie Erlin.

--Field Level Media