ST. LOUIS — Aledmys Diaz learned a valuable lesson at the All-Star Game.

The St. Louis rookie infielder’s walk-off single in the ninth inning gave the Cardinals a 6-5 come-from-behind victory over the San Diego Padres on Thursday night.

St. Louis, which scored four runs in the eighth, recorded its first four-game series sweep at home since beating Colorado on Sept. 30-Oct. 3, 2010.

San Diego has lost four of seven.

Diaz ripped a full-count, one-out, bases loaded pitch into left field off reliever Carlos Villanueva (1-1).

In this month’s All-Star Game, Diaz took a called third strike with the bases loaded to end the eighth inning of the AL’s 4-2 victory.

He decided that wasn’t going to happen in a similar situation on Thursday.

“This time, I wanted to be aggressive,” Diaz said. “Go get it, if it looks good.”

Tommy Pham led off the bottom of the ninth with a double. Greg Garcia drew a walk and Jeremy Hazelbaker moved the runners over with a perfect bunt. Jedd Gyorko was walked intentionally to set the stage for Diaz’s heroics.

St. Louis reliever Jonathan Broxton (2-2) picked up the win with a scoreless ninth.

The Cardinals erased a 5-1 deficit in the eighth. Hazelbaker led off with a double and he scored on hit by Gyorko, his seventh RBI of the series against his former team. Kolten Wong doubled with one out and Stephen Piscotty hit a three-run homer to center field.

“This was definitely a special one,” Piscotty said. “It’s a lot more fun when those things happen and you end up winning. This was a great way for our team to come back.”

Yangervis Solarte homered in the eighth inning to extend the Padres’ franchise-record home run streak to 19 consecutive games. The streak is the longest in the National League since the Milwaukee Brewers hit home runs in 20 consecutive games in July 2008.

His 10th home run of the season pushed the lead to 5-1.

“To put it simply, it’s just hard work,” Solarte said of the home run streak. “I know we have some power on this team.”

Andrew Cashner, the subject of trade rumors the past few days, allowed one run and three hits for San Diego. He struck out eight and did not walk a batter. Cashner has allowed one run or less in three of his last four starts.

“I’ve been working on a slider for the past couple weeks and I’ve finally got a good feel,” Cashner said.

Alexei Ramirez had three hits and drove in two runs for the Padres, who have scored an NL-best 226 runs since June 1.

St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright gave up two runs and seven hits over six innings. He struck out eight and did not walk a batter.

Wainwright believes the comeback win can lead to better things.

“We’re ready for a good streak here,” he said. “We’re ready to run off a 12-spot or something.”

Ramirez gave his team a 1-0 lead with a run-scoring single in the fifth that brought in Ryan Schimpf, who doubled to start the inning. Travis Jankowski followed with an RBI double.

St. Louis outfielder Matt Holliday left the game in the sixth inning after he was hit in the face by a pitch. The ball appeared to strike Holliday’s helmet and then glance off his nose. X-rays were negative and he is listed as day-to-day.

The Cardinals tied their largest comeback of the season by rallying from four runs down.

“We made some things happen,” St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. “We got down and the guys kept playing the game. Watching them make plays, big hits, it was a great day for us.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Padres: INF Brett Wallace was reinstated from paternity leave on Thursday. Wallace and his wife, Taylar, welcomed their first child, a boy named Beckett, on Monday. … LHP Keith Hessler and INF/OF Alexi Amarista were optioned to Triple-A El Paso.

Cardinals: INF/OF Brandon Moss took grounders before Thursday’s game. Moss was placed on the 15-day DL on July 5 with a sprained ankle. He is expected back sometime within the next two weeks.

UP NEXT

Padres: RHP Luis Perdomo (3-4, 7.36) will face RHP Tanner Roark (9-5, 2.82) in the first of a three-game series in Washington on Friday.

Cardinals: RHP Michael Wacha (5-7, 4.45) takes on RHP Brandon McCarthy (2-0, 1.69) in the first of a three-game set against the Dodgers in St. Louis on Friday. Wacha is 2-4 with a 4.85 ERA in 10 home starts this season.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jedd Gyorko homered for the fifth straight game off San Diego pitching, connecting twice with all three RBI in a 3-2 victory that gave the St. Louis Cardinals a doubleheader sweep Wednesday night.

Gyorko, dealt by the Padres in the offseason for outfielder Jon Jay, is 13 for 21 (.619) against his old team with six homers and 10 RBI. He has 11 homers and 27 RBI on the year with 40 starts spread across the infield. He started at third base both games of the doubleheader.

He has four consecutive three-hit games against San Diego and four career multi-homer games, with both long balls in Game 2 off Paul Clemens (1-1).

Carlos Martinez (9-6) was dominant after a shaky first inning and a nosebleed in the second, and the Cardinals took the opener 4-2. Gyorko, Matt Holliday and Yadier Molina homered off Colin Rea (5-4).

The Cardinals, just 23-28 at home, go for a four-game sweep Thursday night with ace Adam Wainwright facing Andrew Cashner.

Ryan Schimpf homered in both games for San Diego with his sixth and seventh of the season.

All 11 runs in the twin bill scored on homers.

Jaime Garcia (7-6) allowed a run in 5 2/3 innings in the second game and Seung Hwan Oh earned his fourth save in five chances, and second of the day.

The Padres had two on and no outs in the fifth but failed to execute on a safety squeeze when Travis Jankowski tapped back to the mound, giving Garcia time to throw to the plate for a tag.

Only 11,191 fans were in the seats for the opener, rescheduled from a rainout on Tuesday night. Paid attendance was 40,184. Attendance was 41,012 for the finale.

Martinez’s nosebleed halted the opener for about 12 minutes but turned out to be just a minor issue. The right-hander was even better once trainers stopped the bleeding with cotton balls and petroleum jelly.

San Diego opened with Jankowski’s double and Schimpf’s two-run homer but had just two more hits off Martinez. After play resumed, he retired 11 of his next 12 batters.

Aledmys Diaz had two hits and has reached safely in 23 consecutive games, longest by a rookie this season. He is 13 for 19 against San Diego with a homer and four RBI.

Rea had been 2-0 with a 3.68 ERA in his previous four starts. He allowed four runs in six innings in his first outing in two weeks.

HOMER HAPPY

Matt Kemp’s 20th of the year gave San Diego a homer in 18 consecutive games, extending a franchise record and the NL’s longest streak since the Reds had an 18-game run in 2010. The Cardinals have homered in a season-best 11 straight games, totaling 23 in that time.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Padres: C Christian Bethancourt took a foul ball off his right knee guard in the seventh of the opener but finished without issues. Derek Norris played the second game.

UP NEXT

Padres: Cashner (4-7, 5.05) has lost two of his last three starts.

Cardinals: Wainwright (9-5, 4.19) is coming off a three-hit shutout against the Marlins and has allowed one run in his last 23 innings.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The San Diego Padres juggled their rotation after Tuesday night’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals was postponed because of anticipated storms that finally materialized about one hour and 45 minutes after the scheduled start.

Busch Stadium was dry but empty when heavy rains began.

The Tuesday night pitching matchup, Colin Rea vs. Carlos Martinez, moves to the Wednesday opener at 2:15 p.m. ET. Paul Clemens gets a spot start in the second game set for 8:15 p.m. ET and will oppose Jaime Garcia.

Andrew Cashner gets bumped back a day to the series finale on Thursday, opposing Adam Wainwright.

Clemens (1-0, 4.73) made two starts for Miami, the most recent one on June 25, three days before being claimed by the Padres. In 14 starts for Triple-A New Orleans he’s 6-4 with a 4.30 ERA.

Both clubhouses were closed after the postponement was announced.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Mike Leake is known for getting ground-ball outs. These days, he’s taking care of business himself.

Leake had his second straight double-digit strikeouts game with no walks, joining Bob Gibson as the only Cardinals to accomplish the feat, and St. Louis beat the San Diego Padres 10-2 on Monday night.

“Actually I’m trying to attack and get a few strikeouts, I think that’s kind of helping,” Leake said. “I’m feeling good, feeling healthy and just going after guys.”

Leake (7-7) struck out a season-best 11, one shy of his career high, and allowed one run and six hits in six innings. The Cardinals’ top free agent pickup fanned 10 over seven innings in a victory at Milwaukee on July 10.

Plus, he hasn’t walked anybody in 19 consecutive innings.

“I feel like it’s all kind of coming together a little bit,” Leake said. “I’m able to put the ball where I want it a little better right now than I was earlier in the year, that’s for sure.”

Gibson accomplished the feat in his final start of the 1968 regular-season and his first in 1969, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Leake has four career double-digit strikeouts games and is the first Cardinals pitcher with 10 or more in consecutive starts since Lance Lynn in 2012.

“He’s able to make big pitches in big situations,” manager Mike Matheny said. “He was so good on the corners.”

Pinch-hitter Matt Adams batted for Leake after the Padres changed pitchers, and his two-run double keyed a four-run sixth inning. Randal Grichuk and Jedd Gyorko connected in consecutive at-bats in the seventh, and Stephen Piscotty homered into Big Mac Land in the third deck in left in the eighth. Adams is 9 for 21 with two homers and eight RBI as a pinch hitter.

“We knew what we were getting into,” Padres manager Andy Green said. “It just didn’t work out.”

Christian Friedrich (4-6) gave up four runs — three earned — six hits and five walks in 5 1/3 innings. The lefty has lost his last four starts.

“Even the outs I was getting, I was falling behind the hitters,” Friedrich said. “Same old story.”

Matt Kemp homered for the third straight game for the Padres, coming off a sweep at home over the NL West-leading Giants. The Padres have homered in a franchise-record 16 consecutive games, the longest streak in the NL since the Reds had 18 in a row in 2010.

Rookie Aledmys Diaz added an RBI triple, and Stephen Piscotty had a run-scoring single in the sixth-inning rally that put St. Louis ahead 6-1. Diaz also singled and walked and has reached safely in a team-high 22 consecutive games.

ROSENTHAL MOPUP

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said former closer Trevor Rosenthal won’t get any duty in “high leverage situations” for the time being. Rosenthal retired the side in order in the ninth.

“We’re always going to celebrate when we get a positive from Rosey,” manager Mike Matheny said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Padres: OF Jon Jay (right wrist) expects to get his cast off in about two weeks, and then a rehab will follow.

Cardinals: 3B Jhonny Peralta (sore thumb) was not in the lineup. He was taken out in a double switch on Sunday. OF Matt Carpenter (oblique) and 1B-OF Brandon Moss (ankle) played light catch together.

UP NEXT

Padres: San Diego has won eight of the last 12 starts of Colin Rea (5-3). He had no decision his last time out, allowing four runs in 4 2/3 innings on July 6 at Arizona.

Cardinals: Carlos Martinez (8-6) leads the majors with a .189 opponent’s batting average and has allowed just one extra-base hit to a right-handed hitter.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Ichiro Suzuki was floored by the consistent, appreciative reception from a packed road crowd, which cheered him every chance it got.

He was touched, too, by actions of St. Louis Cardinals players who gave him plenty of time to gather it in all weekend.

Catcher Yadier Molina set the tone on Friday night when Suzuki was announced as a pinch hitter. Pitcher Adam Wainwright walked away from the rubber before another pinch-hit at-bat on Saturday. And before a rare start as the leadoff man in the series finale Sunday, he got a nice round of applause.

The 42-year-old showed them he has plenty left in the tank, too.

Suzuki doubled, singled twice and had another hit taken away on a replay challenge, leaving him six shy of 3,000 in the Miami Marlins’ 6-3 victory.

“These are three games that I’ll probably never forget,” he said through a translator. “I don’t think I could have experienced something like this unless it was here in St. Louis,” adding of the Cardinals stars, “It was hard to look at them as the enemy.”

Suzuki made just his second start this month with All-Star Marcell Ozuna getting a day off. He’s been largely reduced to pinch hitting behind a set outfield, and singled in that role on Friday.

He’ll be back to a bench role on Monday in Philadelphia, with no complaints.

“I think Ich is taking a lot of pressure off of everyone, just because he talks about playing till he’s 50,” manager Don Mattingly said. “So, he should be able to get, what is it, seven more hits in the next seven years?”

Suzuki also walked, scored a run and came up just short on his bid to beat out an infield hit. All of that in wilting, 93-degree heat for a player who’d been 3 for 11 in July.

“I guess me being close to 3,000, the fans reacted that way and treated me this way, it was just an amazing experience,” Suzuki said.

Giancarlo Stanton’s second double of the game drove in the go-ahead run in a two-run seventh against Jonathan Broxton (1-2).

Christian Yelich had two hits and three RBI and Jeff Mathis bunted home a hit for Miami, which took two of three for just its second series win the last seven years in St. Louis.

Matt Holliday batted cleanup for the first time this season and had three of the Cardinals’ four hits, including his 16th homer. But St. Louis struck out 15 times, including four by Randal Grichuk and three by Tommy Pham.

Kyle Barraclough (5-2) had three strikeouts in 1 2/3 perfect relief innings and A.J. Ramos earned his 29th save in 30 chances. The bullpen worked 3 2/3 scoreless innings after finishing with two spotless frames in a 5-0 loss Saturday.

“Great pitching, great hitting, great defense,” Ramos said. “We’ve been doing that all year, so if we continue that I think we’ll be fine.”

The Marlins have won five of six overall and are seven games above .500, matching their high water mark of the season.

“It’s obviously more fun to play,” Ramos said. “We’re never really out of a game, we keep pushing and pushing.”

Marlins starter Adam Conley matched his career high with nine strikeouts, giving up two earned runs in 5 1/3 innings. He didn’t mind the heat, saying he pitched in those conditions “it seemed like every day game in Mobile, Alabama, in the Southern League.”

“I try to put everything on an even playing field,” Conley said. “Nobody out there was comfortable.”

Michael Wacha needed 101 pitches to get 12 outs for St. Louis and gave up three runs on seven hits. Four innings matched his shortest outing of the season.

“They were definitely grinding out some at-bats, for sure,” Wacha said.

UP NEXT

Marlins: Jose Fernandez (11-4, 2.52) works the opener of a four-game series at Philadelphia.

Cardinals: Mike Leake (6-7, 4.14) had a season-high 10 strikeouts his last time out at Milwaukee.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: 1B Justin Bour (ankle) could rejoin the team next weekend.

Cardinals: 1B-OF Brandon Moss (ankle) is making slow progress and is still in a walking boot.

LONG BALL

The Cardinals have homered in eight straight games but are just 4-4 in that stretch.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — No doubt, Adam Wainwright was motivated by a pregame ceremony to honor the 2006 World Series champions.

The 6-foot-7 right-hander got the final out that season as the Cardinals’ stand-in closer — and finished what he started Saturday night by pitching a three-hitter as St. Louis cruised to a 5-0 victory over the Miami Marlins.

Wainwright and catcher Yadier Molina are the only two remaining Cardinals players from the 2006 title team. Former manager Tony La Russa had texted Wainwright jokingly suggesting that the pitcher petition skipper Mike Matheny to work the ninth on Saturday.

“He didn’t know I was starting and when I saw him for the picture, I said, `I’m probably going to ask him once the ninth rolls around if I can keep going,” Wainwright said.

Wainwright had thrown 108 pitches through eight innings and asked Matheny: “Just give me 10 pitches.” Wainwright needed only a dozen to retire the side in order.

Jhonny Peralta homered and Stephen Piscotty had two hits, a walk and two RBI for St. Louis.

Wainwright (9-5) struck out five with two walks and didn’t allow a hit until Adeiny Hechavarria doubled to open the sixth inning. The team’s longtime ace received a standing ovation in the eighth before striking out for the fourth straight time.

The only other time he fanned four times, Wainwright shut out the Rockies on May 11, 2013.

“Usually you get behind and guys want to make something happen and start trying to create things,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “It seemed like he used that aggressiveness against us.”

Wainwright is 3-0 with a 0.39 ERA in three starts this month. The shutout was his first since Sept. 17, 2014, against the Brewers, and his 22nd career complete game.

He missed virtually all of the 2015 season with a ruptured left Achilles and had a 5.71 ERA after the first two months. Now it’s down to 4.15.

“The start I had was a disaster, so it’s cool to be back pitching pretty good again and not the laughingstock of the baseball world anymore,” Wainwright said.

Matt Adams hit an RBI single in a four-run third, following Piscotty’s two-run double and an RBI double by Randal Grichuk.

After blowing two late leads in the series opener Friday night, St. Louis improved to 20-27 at home.

The Cardinals were flawless on defense a night after committing at least three costly miscues, among them their major league-leading 69th error. Matt Holliday, shaky at first base in the opener, didn’t play.

The highlight for Miami was a pair of diving catches by right fielder Giancarlo Stanton, the first robbing Adams of a two-run double to end the first and the second denying Aledmys Diaz a hit in the fourth.

Tom Koehler (6-8) lasted four innings, allowing four runs and seven hits. He’s 1/3 with a 7.84 ERA against St. Louis and has thrown four or fewer innings in three of his last four starts overall.

“Right now, honestly, it seems like when I execute a pitch it seems like it’s getting hit,” Koehler said. “And when I don’t, it seems like it’s really getting hit.”

Miami (48-42) is a game ahead of St. Louis (47-43), with both chasing the second NL wild-card spot. The Marlins dropped back from a season-best seven games above .500.

Ichiro Suzuki grounded out while pinch hitting in the eighth and remained at 2,991 major league hits.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: 1B Justin Bour (ankle) is likely to need a rehab assignment before returning. He was eligible to come off the DL on Saturday.

Cardinals: RHP Jordan Walden (shoulder) has been throwing and will be examined by team doctors early next week. He hasn’t pitched since April 2015.

UP NEXT

Marlins: LHP Adam Conley (6-5, 3.62 ERA) faces the Cardinals for the first time. Left-handed hitters have more success against him, .289 to .223 for right-handed hitters.

Cardinals: Michael Wacha (5-7, 4.36) has been on the upswing, going 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA in his last six starts.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Ichiro Suzuki had a pinch-single for his 2,991st career hit and scored to tie it in the eighth inning and Miguel Rojas drove in the go-ahead run in the ninth as the Miami Marlins beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-6 on Friday night for their fourth straight victory.

Tommy Pham had two of the Cardinals’ four homers and drove in four runs. Stephen Piscotty and Randal Grichuk also connected for St. Louis, which hit two each off Wei-Yin Chen and reliever David Phelps but had three defensive miscues.

The hit was the first since July 4 for the 42-year-old Suzuki. He’s had just seven pinch-hit appearances and one start this month with the Marlins, who have a steady outfield rotation of Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna and Giancarlo Stanton.

The Cardinals blew leads of 4-1 and 6-5 to fall to 19-27 at home. They were 55-26 at home last year, tied for best in the majors.

Matt Holliday, getting his sixth start at first base, couldn’t handle a long hop on a potential double play ball in the fourth inning that led to a run. Reliever Kevin Siegrist made an errant pickoff throw on Suzuki for an error and Grichuk came in and couldn’t retreat in time to harness Ozuna’s double in the ninth that led to the winning run.

Chen has surrendered 19 homers, among the league leaders. Phelps had given up just two in 46 innings.

Seung Hwan Oh (2-1), the Cardinals’ stand-in closer, lost on his 34th birthday.

Suzuki singled off Siegrist with one out in the eighth and scored on Martin Prado’s two-out hit off Jonathan Broxton.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: 1B Justin Boer (ankle) is eligible to come off the DL on Monday but is still experiencing soreness and manager Don Mattingly said, “progressing, but not ready yet.”

Cardinals: 1B-OF Brandon Moss (ankle) is eligible to come off the DL on Saturday but is still in a walking boot.

BIG PITCH

New Missouri football coach Barry Odom and national champion wrestler J’Den Cox threw ceremonial first pitches.

UMPIRE DOWN

The umpiring crew worked a man short after plate ump Chad Fairchild took a foul off his right forearm in the bottom of the first. Jim Joyce went from first base to home.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Long-time Cardinals broadcaster Mike Shannon worked the booth on his 77th birthday.

UP NEXT

Marlins: Tom Koehler is 1-2 with a 7.56 ERA in three career starts against the Cardinals.

Cardinals: Adam Wainwright (8-5, 4.49) is 50-28 with a 3.05 ERA for his career after the break. He is 2-0 his last two outings, allowing one run in 14 innings.

— Associated Press —

MILWAUKEE (AP) — For a team that thinks it can and will play a whole lot better, the St. Louis Cardinals are in decent position.

Mike Leake struck out a season-high 10 over seven innings, Matt Adams and Randal Grichuk homered, and the Cardinals cooled off Milwaukee rookie Junior Guerra in a 5-1 victory over the Brewers on Sunday.

Aledmys Diaz scored from first on a single in the fifth to snap a tie and the Cardinals entered the All-Star break having cut a 12-game deficit to the Cubs to seven in the NL Central.

“That’s pretty impressive,” manager Mike Matheny said, “because we haven’t played well.”

Adams snapped an 0-for-27 skid with a solo homer estimated at 455 feet to lead off the second. That ended a 16 1/3-inning scoreless streak for Guerra (6-2). The right-hander allowed another solo shot to Grichuk in the sixth and snapped a three-start winning streak.

Grichuk and Adams added RBI hits in the ninth.

“Even though the (hitless skid) I felt that I was squaring up some balls and just hitting them hard right at them,” Adams said. “But I was swinging at balls I don’t normally swing at. The last couple days I felt I was able to manage the strike zone a little bit better.”

Jonathan Lucroy had two hits, including an RBI single in the first for the Brewers, who are 0-13-1 in their last 14 series with St. Louis.

Strikeouts have been a problem Milwaukee season, and Leake (6-7) was an unlikely candidate to keep that going.

Leake entered with a rate of 5.7 strikeouts-per-nine-inning, ranking 91st out of 99 qualifying pitchers in the majors. However, he used his slider to keep Milwaukee off balance.

“I had that to go to because it was working and they were swinging over it,” Leake said. “So why not use it a little bit more?”

Leake allowed six hits and no walks in his first win since June 12.

“Mike was really good today,” Matheny said. “He got into some bad spots and made better pitchers when that happened.”

The Brewers wasted Chris Carter’s leadoff triple in the seventh, his first since 2014, and didn’t score after putting runners at first and third with no outs in the third.

“To sustain a rally, you have to get something going there,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said.

Hernan Perez fanned three times, and the Brewers struck out 10 or more times for the 42nd time in 87 games.

Ex-Brewers reliever Jonathan Broxton struck out two in a perfect eighth before a two-run ninth put it away.

The Cardinals took a 2-1 lead in the fifth thanks to their speedy All-Star. Diaz reached on his 19th infield single with two out. He then never stopped and scored from first on Stephen Piscotty’s bloop single off center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis’ glove.

“I just ran hard and looked at the third base coach,” Diaz said. “I ran like it was a double in the gap and he sent me to home plate. I was ready to keep running.”

The 31-year-old Guerra walked Leake with two out in the sixth to end his day. The former independent league right-hander gave up seven hits and three walks while striking out five.

“I didn’t make quality pitches at times,” Guerra said. “When I missed my spot, they took advantage and got some big hits.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: LF Matt Holliday (ankle) didn’t start for a second straight day, but flied out as a pinch hitter in the eighth. … C Alberto Rosario went 1 for 3 in his first big league start with veteran Yadier Molina resting a sore knee.

Brewers: OF Domingo Santana (elbow) will remain in Milwaukee during the All-Star break to rehab. “The goal is to hopefully increase his on-field activity starting Friday in Cincinnati,” Counsell said. “Hopefully by the weekend, we can determine dates for (a minor league rehab assignment).”

WEB GEM

A fan in the first inning made a leaning catch of a foul ball with his glove, bounced off the top of the Milwaukee dugout and fell backward to the ground. The man held onto the ball and drew cheers from Brewers owner Mark Attanasio, sitting nearby.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Diaz replaces injured teammate Matt Carpenter in Tuesday’s All-Star Game. St. Louis returns from the break Friday against Miami to start a 10-game homestand.

Brewers: Lucroy heads to his second All-Star Game. Milwaukee then begins a six-game trip in Cincinnati on Friday.

— Associated Press —

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Playing with a lineup depleted by injuries, St. Louis manager Mike Matheny enjoyed the Cardinals’ powerful finish.

Jhonny Peralta, Tommy Pham and Aledmys Diaz homered, helping Carlos Martinez and the Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 8-1 on Saturday.

Peralta hit a leadoff drive in the second off Chase Anderson (4-10). Pham connected for a solo shot and Diaz belted a three-run homer during the Cardinals’ five-run ninth.

“It was nice to get a little extra help there at the end,” Matheny said. “We were just trying to see if we could outlast them.”

Martinez (8-6) struck out a season-high 11 in five innings in his first win since June 11. The right-hander allowed one run and four hits with four walks.

“Carlos had electric stuff,” Matheny said. “He was just throwing bullets up there but he was working deep counts on almost every batter. But then he decided to get a little more efficient and you were seeing first-pitch outs.”

Martinez, speaking through a translator, said he was disappointed he wasn’t able to go deeper into the game.

“But I tried to stay focused, especially with my slider,” Martinez said.

Anderson struggled with his command and lasted just four innings. He walked five and allowed two runs and four hits.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis hit an RBI single in the third for Milwaukee’s only run. The Brewers stole three bases in the inning, including a pair by Jonathan Villar, but left the bases loaded.

Tyler Lyons relieved Martinez and pitched 2 1/3 hitless innings. Matt Bowman got two outs and Seth Maness finished the four-hitter.

Stephen Piscotty had two hits and scored two runs for St. Louis, and Jedd Gyorko singled in Yadier Molina in the eighth.

BEE DELAY

The start of the game was delayed nearly 10 minutes while Milwaukee’s grounds crew attempted to control a swarm of bees that gathered in the corner of the right-field fence.

Piscotty was the right fielder for the Cardinals, and Matheny said he asked him if he was allergic.

“Then you’ve got a major issue,” Matheny said. “That’s deathly. I wouldn’t have started the game until they figured it out. But he was all right with it, so the show goes on.”

AFTER FURTHER REVIEW

An apparent inning-ending double play turned by the Brewers in the third was overturned after a review, which showed second baseman Scooter Gennett did not get his foot on the bag at second.

When play resumed, Molina drew a walk before Anderson struck out Gyorko. Anderson had to throw 11 additional pitches as a result of the ruling.

FLASHING LEATHER

With the bases loaded and two outs in the third, Cardinals second baseman Greg Garcia made a diving stop of a hard ground ball by Milwaukee’s Ramon Flores. Garcia got to his feet and fired a throw to first that Gyorko dove to catch while keeping his foot on the base, ending the inning.

“It was a better play by Jed. That was such a bad throw,” Garcia said. “For him to stay on the bag like that, for a guy that doesn’t play a lot of first base, that was an incredible play by him.”

ONE TO REMEMBER

Alberto Rosario drove in the Cardinals’ final run with a single in his first career at-bat. The 29-year-old catcher has played 11 years in the minors.

“It’s taken me a little bit longer than others but I’ve worked so hard for this moment,” Rosario said through a translator. “I’ve been through some hard moments and it has been a long time coming.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: OF Matt Holliday, who sprained his left ankle rounding first base on Friday, was a late scratch. Holliday was initially slated to play left field and bat third. He was replaced by Pham. … Peralta, who pinch-hit on Friday but had been out of the starting lineup for three games with a left thumb injury, started at third base. … Reliever Trevor Rosenthal, who left Friday’s game with what was described as left hamstring cramps, got an MRI. “It’s going to be day to day with no DL, it looks like,” Matheny said.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Mike Leake (5-7, 4.33 ERA) gets the ball in the series finale on Sunday. He is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in two starts against the Brewers this season.

Brewers: Junior Guerra (6-1, 2.93 ERA) has won his last three starts, posting a 0.81 ERA. He has pitched 15 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings. In his only start against the Cardinals this season, Guerra gave up four runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings.

— Associated Press —

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jonathan Villar had to wait to celebrate his first walk-off hit in the major leagues.

Villar hit a game-ending RBI single with two outs in the ninth, lifting the Milwaukee Brewers to a 4-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night.

The play had to be reviewed while Villar and his teammates gathered behind the mound.

“We were pretty confident he was safe,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said.

Villar’s hit, off Seung Hwan Oh, got past diving third baseman Greg Garcia. Left fielder Tommy Pham’s throw to the plate was on line and Yadier Molina slapped a quick tag on Kirk Nieuwenhuis as he slid. Home plate umpire Will Little ruled Nieuwenhuis safe, leading to an argument from Molina.

The call was confirmed after a brief review setting off a celebration.

“I was ready for that turn at-bat,” Villar said.

Nieuwenhuis said getting a running lead with a 3-2 count on Villar was crucial in beating the throw to the plate.

“It was really important because I had to avoid the third baseman, too,” he said. “He dove for the ball and I kind of had to re-route and I almost rolled an ankle because I had to avoid him and touch the bag.”

Chris Carter homered twice for Milwaukee, and Jonathan Lucroy also went deep. Jeremy Jeffress (2-4) got the win in relief.

Nieuwenhuis led off the ninth with a walk off Trevor Rosenthal (2-4). He moved to second on a sacrifice by Hernan Perez.

Carter connected for a towering leadoff drive in the second against Michael Wacha, but the Cardinals jumped in front on consecutive run-scoring singles by All-Star Aledmys Diaz and Matt Holliday in the third.

The Brewers regained the lead in the sixth on back-to-back home runs by Lucroy and Carter. Lucroy’s home run, which bounced back onto the field, was upheld after a review. It was Carter’s fourth multihomer game this season.

Wacha was hit in the lower right leg by a low liner off the bat of Villar with one out in the seventh. The ball, which struck Wacha on the right heel, ricocheted to Garcia, who threw Villar out at first.

Wacha remained sprawled on the mound for several minutes while the team trainer examined his leg before walking off the field on his own.

Molina’s leadoff homer in the eighth against Will Smith tied it at 3.

Milwaukee’s Jimmy Nelson allowed two runs and six hits in six innings. He walked four, one intentionally, and struck out two.

Wacha surrendered three runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out eight and walked two.

RIVERA RETURNS

The Brewers recalled INF Yadiel Rivera from Triple-A Colorado Springs. He fills the roster spot of Aaron Hill, who was traded on Thursday to Boston for Aaron Wilkerson and Wendell Rijo.

SPLITTING TIME

Hernan Perez and Will Middlebrooks will share third-base duties with the departure of Hill, who had been the everyday starter at the position, Counsell said.

PIGEON PLAY

After throwing out Garcia on a ground ball leading off the game, Brewers 2B Scooter Gennett had to duck out of the way of a swooping pigeon.

NO ALL-STAR NOD FOR BRAUN

Brewers OF Ryan Braun finished fifth out of five players vying for the final spot on the National League All-Star team. San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt won the fan balloting.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: 3B Jhonny Peralta (left thumb) took batting practice but didn’t start. He pinch-hit in the ninth and flied out to right field.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Carlos Martinez (7-6, 2.90 ERA) is winless in his last four starts despite a 1.33 ERA. Martinez is 2-1 with a 1.08 ERA in five career starts versus Milwaukee.

Brewers: Chase Anderson (4-9, 5.49) is 0-3 with a 10.91 ERA over his last four starts. He is 0-1 with a 2.61 ERA in two starts against St. Louis this season.

— Associated Press —