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Miller helps Cards avoid sweep against Padres

Aug 1, 2014 - 3:00 AM San Diego, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Shelby Miller worked six innings for his first win in almost two months and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the San Diego Padres 6-2 on Thursday to avoid being swept in a three-game series.

Miller (8-8) hadn't won since June 7 against Washington -- a span of seven starts. He struck out five and gave up two runs on three hits and no walks.

Oscar Taveras hit a two-run homer and Matt Holliday added a two-run single for the Cardinals, who bounced back from Wednesday's 12-1 loss to win for only the third time in their last nine games. They went 3-3 on a six-game road trip.

Jedd Gyorko and Will Venable hit solo homers off Miller in the second inning. San Diego's only other baserunner came in the sixth on Rene Rivera's double.

"A couple solo homers got (Miller) on the edge a little bit, then he stepped in and started making some really nice pitches," said Cardinals manager Mike Matheny.

Padres rookie Odrisamer Despaigne (2-3) yielded six runs, nine hits and a walk in 5 2/3 innings to remain winless in his last four starts since winning his first two.

The Padres traded outfielder Chris Denorfia to Seattle ahead of Thursday's non-waiver deadline in exchange for outfielder Abraham Almonte and pitcher Stephen Kohlscheen.

Taveras followed A.J. Pierzynski's two-out single in the second with a homer to right field.

Padres manager Bud Black said Despaigne just couldn't seem to "wiggle out of trouble."

"The pitch to Taveras was a changeup," said Black. "Not quite down and not quite up either."

Gyorko and Venable each cracked homers to right in the bottom of the inning for San Diego to tie the score.

In the third, Holliday followed a single by Matt Carpenter and double by Kolten Wong with a two-run hit to give the Cardinals the lead.

They made it 6-2 in the sixth inning, chasing Despaigne. Tavares lined into an unassisted double play with the bases loaded, but Peter Bourjos later hit an RBI single and Pierzynski drew a bases-loaded walk off reliever Blaine Boyer for the two-run lead.

Kevin Siegrist, Pat Neshek and Trevor Rosenthal each threw a perfect inning of relief for the Cardinals.

Game Notes

The Padres will remain home for three games against Atlanta ... The Cardinals start a six-game homestand Friday against Milwaukee.