Bottalico Relieves Cardinals’ Woes

Ricky Bottalico wasn’t trying to get even with the San Diego Padres. Instead, the St. Louis Cardinal reliever wanted to make up for a woeful performance.

Consider that accomplished.

Bottalico got five outs for his third save to close out the Cardinals’ 6-4 victory over the Padres on Thursday.

Eric Davis hit a two-run homer and Mark McGwire and Joe McEwing had solo shots to lead the Cardinals, while Kent Bottenfield won his third consecutive start.

On Wednesday night, Bottalico walked the only three batters he faced and threw a wild pitch in the ninth inning, taking the loss as San Diego rallied for four runs to win, 7-6. This time, Tony Gwynn flied out with runners on second and third to end the game.

“It wasn’t a question of redemption,” Bottalico said. “I messed the whole thing up last time myself. When you walk three guys, that’s embarrassing. Today, I pitched like I’m capable. I was just being myself.”

Bottalico said a conversation with fellow reliever Scott Radinsky, also part of the Cardinals’ collapse Wednesday, helped him when the two left the clubhouse after the game.

“Radinsky had a good line. We stayed in the clubhouse until 11:46,” Bottalico said. “He said, ‘I only have 14 more minutes to be ticked off about this because tomorrow is another day.’ That’s how our bullpen looks at it as a whole.”

Cardinal Manager Tony La Russa figured he could count on Bottalico to bounce back.

“He’s a tough guy,” La Russa said. “I saw him last night and he was really upset but he wasn’t down.”

Bottenfield (7-1) tied Curt Schilling of the Philadelphia Phillies and Jose Lima of the Houston Astros for the National League lead in victories.

“Mainly, the guys are great behind me defensively,” said Bottenfield, a former reliever who set his previous best with four victories last season, “and they’re swinging the bats well.”

McGwire homered for the second time in two games. The Cardinals were hitless until he connected for his 10th home run in the fourth.