Robinson comes through in the clutch with bloop

SAN DIEGO -- Kerry Robinson doesn't mind that his go-ahead hit wasn't one for the highlight reels.

Robinson hit a run-scoring single in the top of the 10th inning to give the St. Louis Cardinals a 2-1 victory over the San Diego Padres on Saturday night.

"I fell behind in the count and I was looking for a pitch where I could hit it into the outfield or up the middle," Robinson said. "At first, the hit just looked like a pop fly, but since the infielders were in, the ball fell. We got the breaks."

The Padres squandered a chance to win it in the bottom of the ninth when they had runners on second and third with one out against Mike Crudale (2-0).

Bubba Trammell hit a popup to second and Deivi Cruz flew out to right to end the threat.

"We didn't take advantage of a great scoring opportunity and it came back to hurt us," Padres manager Bruce Bochy said.

St. Louis started the 10th against losing pitcher Steve Reed (2-4) with a double by Edgar Renteria. Eli Marrero followed with an infield single that moved Renteria to third.

Robinson then hit a bloop single over shortstop Deivi Cruz to score the winning run.

After pinch-hitter Miguel Cairo was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Mike Holtz replaced Reed and got Fernando Vina to hit into a first-to-home-to-first double play that was started and ended by Padres first baseman Ryan Klesko.

Placido Polanco then flew out to end the inning. Jason Isringhausen got the final three outs for his 20th save.

Crudale got the win with one inning of scoreless relief in the ninth. Padres starter Brett Tomko did not allow a hit for the first 5 1-3 innings.

Vina's single through the right-side of the infield with one out in the sixth ended the string. Tomko gave up one run and three hits in eight innings. He struck out five and walked two.

St. Louis starter Matt Morris gave up just four hits and one run in seven innings.

"I felt good physically throwing the ball, and got the right action on my curveball and fastball," Morris said. "I'm definitely happy with the way it went tonight and the result."

Added St. Louis manager Tony LaRussa: "It was vintage Matt Morris tonight."

Cardinals first baseman Tino Martinez was ejected in the second inning for arguing a call with the first base umpire C.B. Bucknor. His replacement, Eduardo Perez, hit a solo homer off Tomko in the top of the seventh to give St. Louis a 1-0 lead. Perez, batting .155 in 71 at-bats prior to Saturday's game, hit his fifth of the season on a 3-1 pitch.