Wells and Cardinals stop the Padres, 2-1

ST. LOUIS -- Kip Wells limited San Diego to an unearned run in seven innings, and the St. Louis Cardinals got first-inning RBIs from Juan Encarnacion and Albert Pujols in a 2-1 victory over the Padres on Wednesday night.

Encarnacion’s RBI double off the left-field wall was the second in a string of four hits in a row to start the first off Greg Maddux. Encarnacion’s hit atoned for his fielding error in right field in the top of the inning that allowed Mike Cameron to score from first base on Adrian Gonzalez’s single.

Pujols followed Encarnacion’s hit with the go-ahead run-scoring single, helping the Cardinals win for only the second time in eight games. David Eckstein had two hits and scored a run after his leadoff hit in the first.

Wells (5-13) won for the first time in four starts, giving up six hits. He struck out four and walked none in one of his best outings of the season.

Jason Isringhausen allowed runners to reach first and second with two outs in the ninth before retiring Morgan Ensberg for his 22nd save in 24 chances and first since July 31.