Padres Beat Cardinals, End Slump

The St. Louis Cardinals’ luck finally ran out against the National League’s best hitting team.

Tim Teufel and Fred McGriff homered to pace a 12-hit attack as the San Diego Padres batted their way out of a four-game losing streak with a 5-4 victory Wednesday night.

“We’re a tough team to shut down for very long,” said Bruce Hurst, who won for the sixth time in seven decisions. “I think our pitchers have been adequate and our hitters have been a little more than adequate.

“All you’ve got to do is keep it close.”

The Padres lead the league with a .260 batting average. They scored only two runs in losing the first two games of the series before stopping the Cardinals’ five-game winning streak. The Padres had not scored an earned run against the Cardinals in 32 innings before Teufel homered to lead off the third against Mark Clark (3-8).

The Padres added three runs on five hits in the fourth inning, including run-scoring singles by Jerald Clark and Teufel. McGriff hit his NL-leading 32nd home run, connecting off reliever Cris Carpenter in the fifth.

McGriff leads teammate Gary Sheffield by three home runs for the league lead. Sheffield is trying to become the first National League player to win the triple crown since Joe Medwick in 1937.

Sheffield entered the night first in batting average and RBIs, but went 0 for 4 as his average dropped three points to .332. Sheffield finished the season four for 39 with two RBIs against the Cardinals.

Hurst (14-7) worked seven innings and allowed two runs on eight hits. The Padres have won eight of Hurst’s last nine starts.

“We had our ace going today and he pitched a fine ballgame,” Padre Manager Greg Riddoch said. “He was getting ahead of the hitters.”

Hurst is 8-4 in his career against the Cardinals, including a 5-1 mark at Busch Stadium. Randy Myers worked the last two innings for his 30th save.