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Maybin sparks Padres' comeback win over Cardinals

Apr 1, 2011 - 2:06 AM St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Cameron Maybin finished 2-for-5 with a solo homer in his first game as a Padre, and helped San Diego pull ahead in the 11th inning for a 5-3 victory over St. Louis on Opening Day.

Maybin evened the game in the top of the ninth with a two-out shot to center, then hit a 2-1 sinker to right field in the 11th to set Chase Headley in motion. Headley started from first and advanced home due to a catching error by Cardinals shortstop Ryan Theriot, giving the Padres a 4-3 lead.

"I noticed the ball got through when I was going from first to third," Headley said. "I saw the ball was going to bounce and I took a little shuffle, and when I saw the kick I just made a play and was fortunate to get in there."

San Diego starter Tim Stauffer got through six innings, allowing two runs on nine hits. Stauffer got the ball because Padres ace Mat Latos was placed on the disabled list with a strained right shoulder on March 29. Pat Neshek (1-0) got the win for getting through the 10th and Heath Bell closed it out in the 11th.

Nick Hundley had an RBI double and run-scoring single, and Orlando Hudson scored Will Venable on a sacrifice fly in the fourth.

Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter pitched seven innings, allowing two runs on two hits and struck out four. Carpenter was St. Louis' Opening Day starter because Adam Wainwright will miss the entire season due to Tommy John surgery.

Colby Rasmus finished 2-for-3 with a triple and run scored while Albert Pujols, who may have started his final Opening Day in a Cardinals uniform, ended 0-for-5 and grounded into three double plays.

Pujols, who is eligible to become a free agent at season's end, cut off negotiations with the Cardinals shortly after the start of spring training, with the two sides reportedly still far apart on a long-term contract.

Bryan Augenstein (0-1) got the loss for allowing two runs on three hits in the 11th.

The Cardinals got the scoring started in the home half of the first, when Rasmus blasted a 3-1 fastball to center field with one out, and legged out a triple after the ball bounced off the padding.

After Pujols was jammed by Stauffer, popping out to third in foul territory, Matt Holliday roped a single between short and second on the first pitch he saw to score Rasmus. Stauffer struck out Lance Berkman -- who signed with St. Louis in the offseason -- with a 3-2 cutter to end the inning.

San Diego finally got a hit off Carpenter when Venable doubled down the left field line to start the fourth. Jason Bartlett moved Venable to third on a groundout, and Hudson's sacrifice fly to center got San Diego on the board.

Yadier Molina plated Berkman on a liner to left field in the bottom of the fourth to give the Cardinals the edge, and Hundley's two-out double in the fifth tied the game at 2-2.

After Carpenter retired the Padres in order in the seventh, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa brought in Miguel Batista for the eighth, and pinch-hitter Jorge Cantu singled to center with one out.

After Venable flied out to left, Bartlett took a 3-1 sinker to left field to put runners on first and second. Hudson then worked a walk to load the bases, and Batista was immediately pulled.

But Trever Miller came in and got Brad Hawpe to fly out, getting the Cardinals out of the jam.

Pujols opened the eighth by flying out on a long ball to the center field warning track, and Holliday gave the Cardinals the lead with a homer off Mike Adams that just got over the center field wall.

But the lead was short-lived. Ryan Franklin took the mound for St. Louis in the ninth and got two quick outs, but Maybin made it a 3-3 game by slugging a first-pitch curveball over the center field wall.

"Certain situations dictate how you want to be in the [batters] box," Maybin said regarding the ninth inning. "Down one late in the game, if you get something good to hit you have to be ready to hit, especially against a guy like (Franklin). You can't get behind a guy like that."

After a scoreless 10th, Maybin helped Headley score in the 11th. Maybin looked as if he was hurt on the swing, and was replaced at second base by pinch- runner Cedric Hunter.

Hundley plated Hunter with an RBI single in the next at-bat, and Bell retired the Cardinals in order to close the game.

"Obviously since it's opening day it is a bigger deal," Holliday said of the loss. "It's one of 162, you try not to put too much into it and you look towards the next game."

Game Notes

This is the first time the Cardinals and Padres have met on Opening Day...St. Louis was 4-3 against the Padres last season...Carpenter threw 98 pitches -- 57 for strikes...Holliday finished 3-for-4 with a walk; Berkman ended 2-for-4 with a run scored.