The game-winning double into the right field corner -- on the first pitch from Cardinals reliever Mike Mayers -- was the ninth walk-off hit of Hosmer's career.
A.J. Ellis and Travis Jankowski drew back-to-back walks to open the 13th from reliever John Brebbia, who was then replaced by Mayers as the eighth Cardinals pitcher.
Right-hander Adam Cimber (2-1), the Padres' sixth pitcher, earned the win with a perfect inning of relief in the top of the 13th. Brebbia (0-1) suffered the loss.
Both starting pitchers departed after six innings with the score tied 1-1.
Padres right-hander Tyson Ross allowed one run on three hits, two walks and a hit batter with seven strikeouts. Cardinals right-handed starter Michael Wacha allowed a run on three hits and a walk with five strikeouts.
Raffy Lopez hustled the Padres to a 1-0 lead in the second.
With one out and the infield shifted to the right against the left-handed Lopez, the catcher rolled a bunt single down the third base line. Freddy Galvis followed with a grounder to the right side -- the Cardinals second baseman Greg Garcia made a diving stop to his left.
Lopez advanced to second and kept running to third. And when first baseman Jose Martinez bounced his throw past third, Lopez scored.
The batter Ross hit was Paul DeJong leading off the sixth. DeJong scored from first on Martinez's double inside the third base bag to tie the game.
The Padres blew two golden opportunities in the ninth and 10th. In the ninth, Jose Pirela opened the inning with a single and moved to second when St. Louis reliever Bud Norris walked Franchy Cordero. But Norris struck out the next three Padres. In the 10th, pinch hitter Carlos Asuaje and Jankowski hit back-to-back, one-out singles. But Hosmer bounced into a double play.
--Field Level Media
St. Louis | San Diego | |
Michael Wacha | Player | Tyson Ross |
No Decision | W/L | No Decision |
6.0 | IP | 6.0 |
5 | Strikeouts | 7 |
3 | Hits | 3 |
1.50 | ERA | 1.50 |
St. Louis | San Diego | |
Jose Martinez | Player | Travis Jankowski |
3 | Hits | 2 |
1 | RBI | 0 |
0 | HR | 0 |
4 | TB | 2 |
.600 | Avg | .500 |