Rea falters, Padres fall 10-3 to Cardinals

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Colin Rea's third start in the majors did not go nearly as well as his first two.

Rea got off to a rocky start, giving up four runs in the first inning, of the San Diego Padres' 10-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.

Rea (2-1) also made a throwing error while trying to pick a runner off first base as the Padres made two errors in the inning.

"I think for the most part, I wasn't very efficient," Rea said. "I threw a lot of pitches to each hitter. I think that was the biggest thing."

The 25-year-old Rea gave up five runs -- four earned -- over four innings. He struck out four and walked two.

"I think the defensive miscues in the first inning, really three defensive miscues, make it tough on a young pitcher," Padres manager Pat Murphy said. "He didn't have his best stuff and didn't command his fastball on the outer edge as he did his first and second outings. So therefore, he was a little vulnerable."

Matt Kemp singled home two runs in the ninth for the Padres to extend his hitting streak to 15 games.

"This game looks like a blowout, and for all practical purposes it was, but we had some great at-bats," Murphy said. "I think one inning we had four line drives and came up empty."

Justin Upton had two hits for the Padres, who had their five-game winning streak snapped.

The Padres just couldn't dig out of the early hole against Cardinals starter Michael Wacha, who pitched six solid innings.

Wacha (15-4) picked up his fourth straight win and added to his career-best win total by allowing just one run on four hits. He struck out three and walked two.

"I definitely would say my stuff wasn't as sharp as it had been," Wacha said. "Those guys were putting together some good at-bats and I had to work out of some jams and letting the defense play behind me. They were making plays all night."

Stephen Piscotty homered twice and drove in five runs to lead the Cardinals.

The Cardinals scored three runs in the seventh against Odrisamer Despaigne. Heyward tripled home a run and Piscotty hit a solo shot to left.

Piscotty, who had been hitless in 10 at-bats coming into the game, hit a two-run shot against Craig Kimbrel in the ninth for Piscotty's first career multi-homer game.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Padres: C Derek Norris is day-to-day with a left wrist contusion after X-rays following Saturday night's game were negative.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Lance Lynn (9-8, 2.94) will take the mound in the series opener in Arizona on Monday, looking to reach 10 wins for the fourth straight season. The D-Backs counter with LHP Robbie Ray (2-9, 3.38).

Padres: RHP James Shields (9-5, 3.74) opens the series on Tuesday in Washington going for a second straight win. Shields shut out the Braves over six innings in his last start. Washington will counter with RHP Stephen Strasburg (7-6, 4.22).