The San Diego Padres (22-16) are still searching for their first win in the four-game series vs the St. Louis Cardinals (23-15) after dropping the first two.

The Padres and Cardinals face off for another time in this series. The Cardinals have pretty much dominated the series from start to finish, as the Padres are searching for any source of offense. For San Diego, they have Randy Vasquez to try to get the first win of the series, while the Cardinals have Dustin May, the former Red Sox and Dodgers pitcher.

How we’re lining up tonight. pic.twitter.com/bl0ebVMPrx

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 9, 2026

Cardinals snag one in the fourth

The Cardinals come into today’s game 13-5 on the road so far this season and are looking to extend that by getting on the board first in the scoring department. Randy Vasquez has had a great start through three, but St. Louis found some cracks and pushed one across. Started with two singles from Jordan Walker and Nolan Gorman. Then Masyn Winn ground into a 5-4-3 double play, but Walker advanced to third with two outs. Nathan Church would come through after getting a curveball that hung a little too high and shot it into the right-center gap for a double, and got Walker across for the score. Cardinals lead 1-0.

Randy Vasquez continues his good start

In today’s world, the San Diego Padres giving up one run almost feels like a loss. But Randy Vasquez had another good day at the office today, no matter the overall outcome of the game. Vasquez came out hot, striking out four of the first six hitters he faced. Was only able to go five due to the third and fourth being pretty taxing, throwing forty-four combined pitches. Velocity was a major positive today as the fastball was chopping down Cardinals hitters. Also had no walks, which is another major positive. He finished with five innings pitched, giving up six hits, one run (earned), no walks, and grabbing six strikeouts.

Ty France and company snap a 21-inning scoreless streak

Former Dodger Dustin May had a no-hitter going through four innings. That was until Ty France stepped up to the plate. After Ramon Lauerano flew out to right to lead off, France was looking to get something going for the Friars. He ended up giving them a much-needed jumpstart as he slapped a low and in sinker 405ft over the left center wall. The Padres tie it up at one.

Ty game. pic.twitter.com/Ev90exN5eS

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 10, 2026

San Diego would then take advantage of still having two outs to play with. Sung-Mun Song has had two really good at-bats today, and he worked a walk in this one. Freddy Fermin then got a single to center, advancing Song to second. A passed ball in Jackson Merrill‘s at-bat advanced the runners to second and third. Merrill would strike out swinging for the second out of the inning. Bringing up Fernando Tatis Jr., who has been a hot topic so far in these nationally televised games in this series. After having the brutal stretch of no home runs and the rough error last night, he got some love from the baseball gods as he got a bloop single into short right field to bring in both Song and Fermin to give San Diego a 3-1 lead. Manny Machado would strike out to close the inning.

Go ahead, Nando. pic.twitter.com/o4v7JG0oE3

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 10, 2026

Bullpen and Machado chip in to try and help the Padres get their first win of the series

The offense gets one of the best bullpens in baseball, a lead in hopes of getting the first win of the series, but no one said it was gonna happen without a little anxiety. Jeremiah Estrada was the first reliever to come in at the top of the sixth. He would get two quick outs on two fly balls and then strike out Nolan Gorman.

Onto the seventh insert Jason Adam. Jason Adam would get three outs on eleven pitches and hand the baton to Adrian Morejon for the eighth. Morejon would strike out pinch-hitter Jose Fermin and then hit JJ Weatherholt with a 100mph sinker. Ivan Herrea would then come up with a 3-0 count and hit a double down the leftfield line, scoring Weatherholt and inching closer 3-2. Now with the tying run on second, Alec Burelson was looking to bring him in with a dribbler hit up the middle, but Xander Bogaerts fielded it, looked Herrea back to second, and retired Burelson at first. That would be all for Morejon as manager, Craig Stammen made the move to closer, and Mason Miller for a four-out save. Miller got Jordan Walker to ground out to close the eighth inning.

Before Mason Miller came out for the ninth, Manny Machado gave some much-needed insurance. Machado got a middle inside sinker that he shot 105.3mph into the leftfield stands, his sixth of the year. SD leads 4-2.

No había ninguna duda. pic.twitter.com/odLuPaxMPW

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 10, 2026

Cardinals make Padres sweat it out in the ninth

But now back to Mason Miller in for the close in the ninth, and it was not a smooth ride. Miller would walk leadoff man Nolan Gorman. Then he got down in the count vs Masyn Winn before battling back and striking him out. Nathan Church would work a five-pitch walk. Fastball command started a little wild, and Cardinals hitters were just taking the slider. Now up was Thomas Saggese, who fell victim to a strikeout by the reaper for the second out of the inning. Cardinals would then go to Yohel Pozo as a pinch hitter to try to prolong the game. He would strike out, but it was on a slider that seemed to be a miscommunication between Miller and Fermin, which got away, and Pozo reached to load the bases.

This would bring up the rookie JJ Weatherholt, and he got down 1-2 in the count. Weatherholt, who has had a great start to his young major league career, wasn’t prepared for the heat as he watched 102 down the middle, strike three, Padres win 4-2. Miller would get a rare stat in this inning, with four strikeouts in one inning due to the wild pitch that allowed Pozo to reach, and also getting his twelfth.

What’s to come for the Padres

The San Diego Padres (23-16) will close the series out tomorrow afternoon, Sunday, May 10th, vs the St. Louis Cardinals (23-16) at 1:10 PM PT at Petco Park.

With a series split on the line, Walker Buehler will take the mound for San Diego, and St. Louis will have Kyle Leahy.

Wyatt Dearen

Hi Padres fans, I’m Wyatt Dearen. I am from Farmington, New Mexico, which is home to one of the most prestigious high school baseball tournaments in America, the Connie Mack World Series. When it comes around, I do color and statistics for the radio. I am currently pursuing a degree in Sports Administration at the University of Houston #GoCoogs. I have been a sports fan my whole life, following all the major sports leagues since I could walk, and it has been my dream my whole life to work in sports. Thankful to write about the team and for the East VillageTimes.