SAN DIEGO — Manny Machado hit two home runs and drove in three runs for the San Diego Padres, who beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2 on Friday to extend their winning streak to eight, their best streak of the season.
The Padres barely have life in the race for the third and final wild-card berth in the National League playoffs. Machado took it upon himself to keep hope burning, a year after leading them on a surprise run to the National League Championship Series.
The Dominicans put San Diego ahead with two runs, the second off a two-run homer off Matthew Liberatore (3-6), with one out in the eighth inning. Machado gestured toward the Padres dugout after hitting 30 home runs this season.
He was driving in compatriot Juan Soto, who reached base with a double.
In the sixth inning, Machado opened the game with a home run off Dakota Hudson, giving the Padres a 2-1 lead.
Venezuelan Robert Suarez (4-2) won.
And the Venezuelan Cardinals, Jose Herrera, 3-0. Dominican Jose Firmin 3-0.
For the Padres, Dominican Fernando Tatis Jr. is 4-1, Soto is 4-3 with one run, Machado is 4-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs.