Know Your St. Louis Cardinals Call-Ups: Steven Hill

Padres Vs. Cardinals Final Score: St. Louis Completes Sweep With 6-3 Victory

The St. Louis Cardinals trailed 3-0 against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night before ever getting a turn to bat, but the early deficit didn't do much to discourage the reigning World Series champions. The Cards would answer back with three runs of their own in the first inning and eventually secure a 6-3 victory at Busch Stadium.

Carlos Beltran continued his amazing season, blasting a two-run homer (his 14th of the year) in the fifth inning to give St. Louis a 5-3 lead. Third baseman David Freese would make it 6-3 St. Louis with a homer to left field in the seventh inning.

Lynn improves to 7-1 after allowing eight hits and three earned runs in six innings. Jason Motte got the final two outs and earned his eighth save of the year for the Cardinals.

St. Louis improves to 25-19 with the win. San Diego falls to 16-29.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis. Visit Viva El Birdos for more in-depth coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals and Gaslamp Ball for more on the Padres.

Cardinals Vs. Padres Score Update: St. Louis Leads 5-3 In 7th Inning

The St. Louis Cardinals will take a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night. Each team scored three in the first inning, but a Carlos Beltran homer in the fifth inning gave the Cards the two-run lead.

San Diego right fielder Will Venable led off the game with a home run off Cards starter Lance Lynn. Chase Headley singled to right to score first baseman Yonder Alonso and make it 2-0 Padres. Catcher Nick Hundley would score left fielder Jesus Guzman on a fielder's choice before the end of the inning.

Skip Schumaker would quickly answer for St. Louis, doubling to deep center to Rafael Furcal. David Freese and Matt Adams would also add RBI singles in the first inning to tie the game at 3-3 after one inning. Beltran's 14th homer of the season in the fifth made it 5-3 St. Louis.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis. Visit Viva El Birdos for more in-depth coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals and Gaslamp Ball for more on the Padres. For more news and updates from around the MLB, drop by Baseball Nation with Rob Neyer, or dig deeper into the stats at Beyond the Box Score.

Cardinals Place Matt Carpenter On Disabled List, Call Up Steven Hill

The St. Louis Cardinals have placed infielder Matt Carpenter on the 15-day disabled list with a right oblique strain, as the team announced on Wednesday afternoon. Carpenter was playing third base for St. Louis on Tuesday night when he tweaked himself during his first at-bat, ultimately leaving the game.

The team has placed @MattCarp13 on the 15-day DL (right oblique strain). Catcher Steven Hill from AAA Memphis will join the team tonight.

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) May 23, 2012

Injuries continue to ravage the Cardinals' lineup, which is now missing Lance Berkman, Allen Craig and Jon Jay in addition to Carpenter. Matt Adams will get the full-time nod at first base for the time being with Hill providing back-up duty.

So far in 2012, Carpenter has hit .288/.356/.519 with three homers over 118 plate appearances while establishing himself as a legitimate big leaguer. His replacement on the active roster, the 27-year-old Hill, has hit .242/.292/.470 with four homers in 72 plate appearances with Triple-A Memphis this year.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis. Visit Viva El Birdos for more in-depth coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals and Gaslamp Ball for more on the Padres. For more news and updates from around the MLB, drop by Baseball Nation with Rob Neyer, or dig deeper into the stats at Beyond the Box Score.

Cardinals Vs. Padres Preview: St. Louis To Face Ex-Card Jeff Suppan

Adam Wainwright's Shutout: Score One For Metrics

Matt Carpenter Injury Could Raise Cardinals' Need For Matt Adams

Matt Carpenter left the St. Louis Cardinals' win over the San Diego Padres Tuesday with what was described as tightness in his right side and could be an oblique strain, Major League Baseball's leading injury epidemic. That could leave the Cardinals without their rookie super-sub for a few weeks, and without anybody but Matt Adams to start at first base while Allen Craig sits on the 15-day disabled list and Lance Berkman gets his knee checked out.

No pressure, right? Adams has already been called upon to start against the left-handed Clayton Richard, who struck him out and induced a double play; altogether he's 2-10 in three consecutive starts, with two walks and two strikeouts. Without Carpenter Adams is the extent of the Cardinals' options at first base until Craig comes back, whereupon the Cardinals will have to decide whether they want to keep Adams up for the occasional spell against a right-hander or get him more at-bats in AAA and call up a player like Mark Hamilton until Carpenter is back.

Daniel Descalso is likely to take Carpenter's duties as backup third baseman without issue—perhaps opening up more playing time for the newly popular Tyler Greene—but if Carp hits the DL it'll be up to Matt Adams to spell Lance Berkman and Allen Craig.

Padres Vs. Cardinals Final Score: Adam Wainwright Dominates San Diego In 4-0 Win

Adam Wainwright scattered four hits over a complete game shutout as the St. Louis Cardinals topped the San Diego Padres 4-0 on Tuesday night at Busch Stadium. Wainwright, who entered this start with an ERA of 5.77, struck out nine and walked one on the night to improve to 3-5 overall this season. The win moves the Cards to 24-19, while San Diego falls to 16-28.

The Cardinals scored one in the first, two in the sixth and one in the seventh to provide more than enough support for Wainwright. Right fielder Carlos Beltran went 2-for-3 with two RBI in the win. Matt Holiday finished 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI.

Padres starter Edinson Volquez last six innings, giving up three earned runs and five hits. He falls to 2-4 this season.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis. Visit Viva El Birdos for more in-depth coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals and Gaslamp Ball for more on the Padres. For more news and updates from around the MLB, drop by Baseball Nation with Rob Neyer, or dig deeper into the stats at Beyond the Box Score.

Matt Carpenter Injury: Cardinals 3B Leaves Game In 1st Inning

The St. Louis Cardinals have been dealt another blow by the injury bug. Third baseman Matt Carpenter did something to his right side during his first at-bat on Tuesday night, which forced his exit.

Carpenter leaving field holding right side after double. Real clear he was hurt by his lack of speed out of the box. #stlcards #Cardinals

— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) May 23, 2012

Related: Matt Adams, Tyler Greene's Competition, and Other Good News

No additional details of the injury are known at this time. Daniel Descalso replaced Carpenter at third.

St. Louis leads San Diego 1-0 in the second inning.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis. Visit Viva El Birdos for more in-depth coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals and Gaslamp Ball for more on the Padres. For more news and updates from around the MLB, drop by Baseball Nation with Rob Neyer, or dig deeper into the stats at Beyond the Box Score.

Padres Vs. Cardinals Lineups: Adron Chambers Starts In CF

The St. Louis Cardinals took Monday night's game against the San Diego Padres 4-3, and they can secure a series victory with a win on Tuesday night. The Cardinals lineup for the game has been announced. Adron Chambers, who was recently called up when Allen Craig hit the DL, will start in center field.

Cardinals Tuesday lineup: Furcal 6, Carpenter 5, Holliday 7, Beltran 9, Molina 2, Adams 3, Greene 4, Chambers 8, Wainwright 1.

— B.J. Rains (@BJRains) May 22, 2012

Related: Matt Adams, Tyler Greene's Competition, and Other Good News

First pitch is scheduled for approximately 7:15 p.m. CT.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis. Visit Viva El Birdos for more in-depth coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals and Gaslamp Ball for more on the Padres. For more news and updates from around the MLB, drop by Baseball Nation with Rob Neyer, or dig deeper into the stats at Beyond the Box Score.

Padres Vs. Cardinals Preview: Adam Wainwright Tries To Make It Back-To-Back Wins For St. Louis

The St. Louis Cardinals snapped a four-game losing streak on Monday by defeating the San Diego Padres 4-3 at Busch Stadium. On Tuesday, the Cards will look for back-to-back wins by giving the ball to 30-year old right-hander Adam Wainwright. Edison Volquez is scheduled to start for the Padres.

Wainwright enters at 2-5 with a 5.77 ERA and 1.53 WHIP. He's earned a loss in his last two starts.

Volquez, San Diego's 28-year old right-hander, is 2-3 with a 3.04 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. This will be the second game of a 10-game road trip for the Padres.

Game 2 Date & Time: Tuesday, May 22, 7:15 p.m.

TV: Fox Sports Midwest

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis. Visit Viva El Birdos for more in-depth coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals and Gaslamp Ball for more on the Padres. For more news and updates from around the MLB, drop by Baseball Nation with Rob Neyer, or dig deeper into the stats at Beyond the Box Score.

Matt Adams Scuffles In Start Vs. Lefty Clayton Richard

Unfortunately for those of us who follow top St. Louis Cardinals prospects quite this closely, not everyone has a Jeff Francoeur or Bryce Harper or Bo Hart start in them to begin his career—the whole thing requires a little more patience than we're accustomed to having to exercise on the internet. So too with Matt Adams, who, a day after going 2-4 in his debut, brought on suddenly by Lance Berkman's injury, went 0-4, struck out twice, and grounded into a double play. These things happen. It didn't help that Adams was making his second career start against a left-hander, San Diego Padres veteran Clayton Richard.

He got Adams once, and then again with the double play, before reliever Andrew Cashner—the triple-digits-hurling reliever the Padres got from the Chicago Cubs for first baseman Anthony Rizzo—caught him swinging on a 99 mile-an-hour fastball.

Matt Adams Watch will no doubt continue—at least until he hits his first career home run, presumably out of five-to-six-hundred—but I find it helpful, every few days, to remind myself that baseball players rarely come out of the gate hitting .450.

Could Tyler Greene Be The St. Louis Cardinals' Answer At 2B?

Padres Vs. Cardinals Final Score: St. Louis Adds Runs Late To Secure 4-3 Victory

The St. Louis Cardinals trailed 1-0 to the San Diego Padres going into the bottom of the seventh inning on Monday night, but the Cards scored two runs in the seventh and two in the eighth to lock up a 4-3 home victory. The win moves the Cards to 23-19, while San Diego falls to 16-27 on the season.

Shortstop Rafael Furcal clubbed an RBI single to right field in the seventh to get the scoring started. Third baseman Matt Carpenter added a sacrifice grounder to give the Cards a 2-1 lead before the end of the inning.

Left fielder Jesus Guzman doubled to deep center in the eighth inning to tie the game for San Diego, but Tyler Greene would win it for St. Louis in the bottom half of the inning with a two-run homer to right field.

Cards starter Jamie Garcia went seven innings, allowed seven hits and two earned runs while striking out seven. Jason Motte earned the win for St. Louis as he improved to 3-1 on the season.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis. Visit Viva El Birdos for more in-depth coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals and Gaslamp Ball for more on the Padres. For more news and updates from around the MLB, drop by Baseball Nation with Rob Neyer, or dig deeper into the stats at Beyond the Box Score.

Padres Vs. Cardinals Score Update: San Diego Leads 1-0 After 6 Innings

It's been a pitchers' duel so far at Busch Stadium. After six innings, the San Diego Padres are leading the Cardinals 1-0. Padres starter Clayton Richard has allowed just three hits and one walk while striking out two. He's thrown 68pitches through six. Jamie Garcia has struck out five and allowed four hits and just one run.

Related: Padres Vs. Cardinals Lineups: Matt Adams Gets Another Start At 1B

The Padres scored their lone run in the second inning when catcher Nick Hundley hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score first baseman Yonder Alonso.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis. Visit Viva El Birdos for more in-depth coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals and Gaslamp Ball for more on the Padres. For more news and updates from around the MLB, drop by Baseball Nation with Rob Neyer, or dig deeper into the stats at Beyond the Box Score.

Padres Vs. Cardinals Lineups: Matt Adams Gets Another Start At 1B

The St. Louis Cardinals have returned home to begin a three-game set with the San Diego Padres on Monday. Matt Adams, who is fresh off a successful ML debut, is getting another start for the Cardinals at first base. The rest of Monday's lineup:

1. Rafael Furcal (SS)
2. Matt Carpenter (3B)
3. Matt Holliday (LF)
4. Carlos Beltran (RF)
5. Yadier Molina (C)
6. Matt Adams (1B)
7. Tyler Greene (2B)
8. Shane Robinson (CF)
9. Jaime Garcia (SP)

Related: Lance Berkman Injury: ACL Tear Suspected

The Padres' starters:

#Padres lineup 5/21: Denorfia 9, Maybin 8, Headley 5, Alonso 3, Guzman 7, Hundley 2, Amarista 4, Parrino 6, Richard 1.#3inarow?

— Andy Masur (@PadsCast) May 21, 2012

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis. Visit Viva El Birdos for more in-depth coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals and Gaslamp Ball for more on the Padres. For more news and updates from around the MLB, drop by Baseball Nation with Rob Neyer, or dig deeper into the stats at Beyond the Box Score.

Padres Vs. Cardinals Preview: St. Louis Opens A 3-Game Series With San Diego On Monday

The Cardinals return home for a three-game series with San Diego.