The Padres finished their worst homestand of the season on a good note with several positives to build on. They had three strong starts by their starting pitching, punctuated with Mat Latos’ gem on Wednesday that resembled how he pitched last year when he was a candidate for the Cy Young. Heath Bell was able redeem a bad outing with a tie game on Monday with a perfect ninth for his 10^th save. Brad Hawpe also kept swinging the hot bat with two homers in the final series against St. Louis.

The Padres will head to Washington for a three-game series when Clayton Richard (2-5, 4.85) takes the mound against John Lannon (2-5, 5.03). Below is a game by game recap of how the Friars fared against the Redbirds.

May 23^rd, 2011 Cardinals 3, Padres 1

WP Kevin Lohse (6-2) 8IP 5H 1R 1ER 1BB 5K 0HR

LP Heath Bell (2-1) 1IP 3H 2R 2ER 0BB 0K 0HR

S Fernando Salas (8) 0.2IP 1H 0R 0ER 0BB 1K 0HR

Albert Pujols ended his career low streak of at bats between homeruns at 105 when he deposited the ball 359 feet from home plate over the glove of Ryan Ludwick to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead in the sixth. Pujols flew out to the warning track in center in the first inning on a swing he thought was gone for sure but stayed in Petco, just like many Padres have learned.

Ryan Ludwick was robbed of a homer in the first inning also, but this time off the leaping catch over the centerfield wall by Colby Rasmus instead of by his cavernous home field.

Jorge Cantu tied the game with a sac fly in the seventh scoring Cameron Maybin. Chase Headley as thrown out at home prior to that on a grounder by Orlando Hudson that also advanced Maybin to third.

Heath Bell came in during to a tie ballgame in the ninth and promptly got Yadier Molina to groundout to second. He then surrendered a double to Skip Schumaker putting the tying run in scoring position. Daniel Descalso then singled to right field to give the Cards the lead. Ryan Theriot followed with a base hit scoring Descalso, putting St. Louis ahead 3-1.

The Padres got two quick outs in the ninth by swinging strikeouts by Brad Hawpe and Headley. Cameron Maybin then singled and took second without a throw. Orlando Hudson then flew out to deep left just missing a home run that would have tied the game.

May 24^th, 2011 Cardinals 2, Padres 1

WP Miguel Batista (3-1) 2IP 0H 0R 0ER 2BB 0K 0HR

LP Ernesto Frieri (1-2) 1IP 1H 1R 1ER 1BB 2K 0HR

S Eduardo Sanchez (5) 1IP 0H 0R 0ER 0BB 1K 0HR

The Padres had only two hits to the Cardinals 12 and still managed to almost win the game, falling to St. Louis in 11 innings.

The Cardinals jumped ahead in the top of the first when Lance Berkman singled with two outs to bring in John Jay from second base.

Brad Hawpe gave the Padres a 2-1 lead when he homered in the bottom half of the inning with Ryan Ludwick on base.

Ryan Theriot scored Daniel Descalso from third in the seventh to tie the game when he grounded out to Orlando Hudson.

Ernest Frieri’s struggles continued when he walked the first batter he faced in the eleventh. Alan Craig then stole second on the swinging third strike by Skip Shumaker. Frieri then struck out Tony Cruz for the second out. Daniel Descalso then hit a ball towards second base off the glove of a diving Orlando Hudson that deflected into centerfield allowing Craig to score the go ahead run.

May 25^th, 2011 Padres 3, Cardinals 1

WP Mat Latos (2-6) 8IP 6H 1R 1ER 0BB 7K 0HR

LP Chris Carpenter (1-5) 8IP 8H 3R 2ER 0BB 6K 1HR

S Heath Bell (10) 1IP 0H 0R 0ER 0BB 1K 0HR

Mat Latos had hands down his best start of the year and the Padres picked him up, scoring two runs with two down in the eighth to give them a 3-1 lead. Latos looked like the pitcher that set a major league record last season dominating the National League’s best offense over eight innings, giving up only one run in the top of the first and striking out seven. He allowed zero walks and home runs in his longest outing of 2011.

Brad Hawpe homered for the second consecutive day in the second inning. Hawpe went 2-4 and raised his average, which was once below .100, up to .241.

Latos was lifted for pinch hitter Blake Tekotte with one out in the eighth. In his major league debut, Tekotte launched a ball that got retreating right fielder John Jay turned around before he leaped to stab the ball out of the air before it zipped past him, robbing Tekotte of possible extra bases and first career hit.

Jason Bartlett came up next and with two strikes laid a bunt down the third base line for a single. Chase Headley then lined the ball past Descalso into left field for a double, scoring Bartlett from first to give the Padres their first lead and Latos up for the win.

Heath Bell came in and pitched a perfect ninth for his 10^th save in 11 tries.