Padres Extend Win Streak to 6, Top Cardinals 4-1 on Pivetta's Gem

Saturday, August 2nd, 2025

The San Diego Padres extended their winning streak to six games on Friday, August 1, 2025, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1 at Petco Park. Right-hander Nick Pivetta delivered a dominant performance, allowing just one hit and one run over seven innings, while Jackson Merrill drove in two crucial runs for San Diego.

Pivetta (11-3) showcased excellent control, striking out five batters and issuing no walks. His only mistake came in the fifth inning when Willson Contreras launched a solo home run, giving the Cardinals a brief 1-0 lead.

The Padres quickly answered in the bottom of the fifth, erupting for four runs, largely aided by two costly Cardinals errors that led to three unearned runs. With one out and Jake Cronenworth on first, Jose Iglesias hit a slow grounder to third baseman Nolan Gorman, whose wide throw pulled first baseman Contreras off the bag. Cronenworth advanced to third and subsequently scored when Contreras’ throw back to Gorman sailed away.

Elias Díaz then singled to drive in Jose Iglesias. Four batters later, Jackson Merrill delivered a key two-out single up the middle against Cardinals reliever Matt Svanson, extending San Diego's lead.

Robert Suarez closed out the game for the Padres, securing his major league-leading 31st save with a scoreless ninth inning.

Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore (6-9) took the loss, pitching 4 1/3 innings and surrendering four hits and four runs, with only one of them earned.

Key Moment

The eighth inning marked a significant moment for the Padres as Mason Miller, acquired at the trade deadline just a day prior, made his highly anticipated debut. Trotting in from the bullpen to a roaring ovation from the sold-out Petco Park crowd, Miller immediately delivered. He induced Yohel Pozo to ground into a double play with one out and runners on the corners, effectively escaping the inning unscathed and preserving San Diego's lead.

Key Stat

The St. Louis Cardinals’ offensive struggles continued, as they have now lost five of their last six games. In those five losses, the Cardinals have collectively scored a mere four runs, highlighting a significant scoring drought.

Up Next

The series continues Saturday night as the St. Louis Cardinals send right-hander Michael McGreevy (2-2, 4.91 ERA) to the mound. He will face off against San Diego Padres right-hander Randy Vásquez (3-4, 3.65) in Game 2 of the series.

In summary

The San Diego Padres defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1 on August 1, 2025, extending their winning streak to six games. Nick Pivetta dominated for the Padres, yielding just one run and one hit over seven innings. Jackson Merrill contributed with two RBIs, while Robert Suarez earned his MLB-leading 31st save. The Cardinals' lone run came from a Willson Contreras solo homer. San Diego's decisive four-run fifth inning was aided by two Cardinals errors. Key highlights included Mason Miller's successful Padres debut and the ongoing offensive struggles for St. Louis, who have scored only four runs in their last five losses. The series continues with Michael McGreevy pitching for the Cardinals and Randy Vásquez for the Padres.

Related Links

• St. Louis Cardinals News & Updates
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• San Diego Padres News & Updates
• San Diego Padres Schedule & Scores
• MLB News