Gyorko, Hazelbaker hit 3-run homers in Cardinals' 11-2 win

SAN DIEGO -- Rookie Aledmys Diaz had his first five-hit game, Jedd Gyorko and Jeremy Hazelbaker hit three-run homers and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the San Diego Padres 11-2 on Saturday night.

Diaz had a two-run double in the ninth, while Gyorko homered off his old team and Hazelbaker snapped an 0-for-17 slump. Gyorko and Stephen Piscotty each had three hits, and Piscotty hit a solo homer in the sixth.

Gyorko and Hazelbaker homered off Carlos Villanueva, who pitched for the Cardinals last year before signing with the Padres as a free agent.

Michael Wacha (2-0) and three relievers combined on a four-hitter.

Gyorko, traded to the Cardinals for outfielder Jon Jay on Dec. 8, reached the second deck in left field with a 436-foot shot, his third, with one out in the eighth.

Hazelbaker homered to right-center with one out in the seventh to snap a 2-2 tie.

Kevin Quackenbush (1-1) allowed two runs and one hit in 1 1/3 innings for the loss. He allowed a walk and a single in the seventh before Brad Hand came on and allowed pinch-hitter Matt Carpenter's pinch-hit, RBI single. Villanueva then allowed Hazelbaker's homer.

Wacha allowed two runs and four hits in six innings, walked four and struck out none.

Cesar Vargas made an impressive big league debut for the Padres, allowing just one run and five hits in five-plus innings, with three strikeouts and three walks.

His only mistake was hanging a curveball that Piscotty drove into the seats in left field for his third homer to tie the game at 1 leading off the sixth.

The 24-year-old Vargas was recalled from Double-A San Antonio to start in place of lefty Robbie Erlin, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left elbow on Thursday, retroactive to Monday. Vargas, a native of Puebla, Mexico, signed as a major league free agent in November. He spent the previous seven seasons in the New York Yankees' organization.

San Diego's Melvin Upton Jr. hit a sacrifice fly in the first. After Piscotty homered, the Padres tied it in the bottom of the sixth with a sac fly by Alexei Ramirez.

Trainer's room

Padres: To make room for Vargas, INF-OF Alexi Amarista was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring, retroactive to Wednesday

Up next

Cardinals: RHP Mike Leake (0-2, 5.71), who went to Fallbrook High in northern San Diego County, is scheduled to start the series finale.

Padres: RHP Colin Rea (1-1, 5.51) is scheduled to make his fourth start of the season.