PHOENIX (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt hit a two-run homer and then a tying single in the ninth inning against his former team, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a 10-6 victory over the skidding Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night.
It was a back-and-forth game that saw the Cardinals take a 5-2 lead after five innings, only to watch the Diamondbacks push ahead 6-5 heading into the ninth. But St. Louis rallied against closer Andrew Chafin, loading the bases with one out.
That's when Goldschmidt sent a full-count pitch into left field for a single that made it 6-all. Chafin (2-3) struck out Nolan Arenado for the second out but then walked Lars Nootbaar, which forced home Willson Contreras for a 7-6 lead.
Tyler O'Neill followed with a crucial blow, hitting a three-run double off Kevin Ginkel that made it 10-6.
St. Louis snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to 7-4 since the All-Star break.
Arizona has dropped five straight, continuing an extended slide. The D-backs are 5-13 in July, which could change the team's approach to the rapidly approaching trade deadline on Aug. 1.
Goldschmidt crushed his 17th homer in the first for a 2-0 lead, hitting a fastball from Ryne Nelson off the batter's eye, far above the 407-foot sign on the center-field wall. The veteran first baseman spent his first eight seasons with the Diamondbacks — making six All-Star teams — before being traded to the Cardinals after the 2018 season.
It was Goldschmidt's 104th career homer at Chase Field — the most for any player since the park opened in 1998.
Arizona scored a run in both the first and second to even it 2-all. Corbin Carroll brought home a run with a sacrifice fly, and Alek Thomas hit a two-out single that scored Emmanuel Rivera.
St. Louis right-hander Adam Wainwright returned to the mound after three weeks on the shelf with a right shoulder strain. The 41-year-old got better as his outing progressed, retiring nine hitters in a row at one point. He went five innings, giving up two runs on four hits while throwing 76 pitches.
The right-hander left with a 5-2 lead and was in line for his 199th career win, but the St. Louis bullpen couldn't hold it.
The D-backs scored twice in the sixth to cut the margin to 5-4 and then pushed ahead 6-5 in the seventh on Evan Longoria's pinch-hit, two-run double off Giovanny Gallegos (2-4). The 37-year-old third baseman is a three-time All-Star who has turned into a valuable role player this season in the desert.
Nelson gave up five runs on eight hits over six innings.
LONGEVITY
Wainwright made his 402nd start for the Cardinals, passing Bob Forsch (401) for sole possession of second place in franchise history. Only Hall of Famer Bob Gibson (482) had more.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Diamondbacks: Manager Torey Lovullo said RHP Drey Jameson has a sprained UCL in his right elbow and is trying to decide whether to rest the injury or have Tommy John surgery. Jameson is 3-1 with a 3.32 ERA in 40 1/3 innings this season while splitting time between the rotation and bullpen.
UP NEXT
The series continues Tuesday night. The D-backs are expected to start RHP Merrill Kelly (9-4, 3.22 ERA), though Arizona still needs to make a roster move to bring him off the injured list. The Cardinals will counter with LHP Steven Matz (1-7, 4.67).
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