Cardinals Win Heated Series Over Padres

The St. Louis Cardinals won three of the first four games in a tense series against the San Diego Padres, starting with a 9-7 victory in which Padres starter Yu Darvish allowed eight runs in 3.1 innings, intensifying concerns about his performance and future. The Cardinals also secured a 3-0 shutout on Friday and a 3-1 win on Saturday, with strong pitching and timely hitting. The series was marked by escalating tensions, including multiple hit batters, bench-clearing confrontations, and several ejections. Padres starter Randy Vásquez helped end San Diego's losing streak with a solid outing on Saturday, supported by effective bullpen work. Both teams faced injuries and shifting lineups as the Cardinals improved their position in the NL Wild Card standings. The Padres continue to struggle with rotation stability and offensive consistency as the playoff race tightens.