Ankiel has smooth return in Cards' 4-2 win over Padres

SAN DIEGO -- Pinch-hitter Roger Cedeno's go-ahead, two-run double in the sixth inning helped the St. Louis Cardinals beat the San Diego Padres 4-2 on Tuesday night for their 10th win in 11 games.

Rick Ankiel, whose once-promising career was derailed by wild pitches and elbow surgery, made his first appearance for the Cardinals in more than three years. He allowed one hit in a scoreless inning in relief of Jeff Suppan (15-6).

The Padres, trying for their first postseason appearance since 1998, stumbled again, losing for the sixth time in eight games. They remained 2 1/2 games behind Chicago in the NL wild-card race. The Cardinals, baseball's best team, swept the Padres last week at St. Louis, outscoring them 20-7.

The Cardinals returned to form a night after having their nine-game winning streak snapped.

Edgar Renteria and John Mabry singled off Jake Peavy to open the sixth, and scored when Cedeno, pinch-hitting for Suppan, doubled to the right-field wall.

Ankiel started the bottom of the sixth by allowing a single to Xavier Nady, then retired the side. It was Ankiel's first big league appearance since May 10, 2001.

Ankiel is best known for throwing nine wild pitches and walking 11 in four innings in the 2000 playoffs. He was demoted to the minors in May 2001, and missed the entire 2002 season with a sprained elbow. He had reconstructive elbow surgery last year.

Suppan allowed two runs and five hits in five innings, walked five and struck out three. Jason Isringhausen pitched the ninth for his 40th save in 46 chances, tying Florida's Armando Benitez for the NL lead.

The Padres took a 2-1 lead with two outs in the fourth when Suppan walked Sean Burroughs on four straight pitches with the bases loaded.

St. Louis tied it with an unearned run in the fifth. Tony Womack reached on a leadoff single, took second on Peavy's errant pickoff throw and scored on Albert Pujols' bloop double just inside the right-field line.

Phil Nevin homered leading off the second for the Padres, his 22nd. St. Louis tied it on Edgar Renteria's RBI single in the fourth.

Peavy (11-5) struck out eight in 5 1-3 innings. He allowed four runs -- three earned -- and eight hits and walked three.

Notes: The Cardinals won the season series against the Padres for the sixth straight season. ... Padres 2B Mark Loretta, who bruised a knuckle on his right ring finger Saturday night, said he could return either Wednesday against the Cardinals or Thursday at Colorado. He swung a bat and played catch Tuesday, saying it was difficult to make throws.