Simple Groundout Grinds Up Padres

After a nine-year absence from the National League playoffs, the St. Louis Cardinals are doing everything right.

Tom Pagnozzi, who played on the 1987 World Series team, had the key at-bat in the Cardinals’ 5-4 victory over the San Diego Padres Thursday. His eighth-inning liner off the glove of reliever Trevor Hoffman ended up as a groundout, but drove in the winning run as the Cardinals took a 2-0 lead in this best-of-five series before a Busch Stadium record crowd of 56,752.

The Cardinals can eliminate the Padres Saturday in San Diego as Donovan Osborne (13-9) opposes Andy Ashby (9-5). But it won’t be easy: They lost 15 straight games at Jack Murphy Stadium before winning four of six there this season.

“I’m glad we don’t have to go out there and win two,” Pagnozzi said. “We haven’t played well out there, plain and simple.”

The Padres were in a similar situation the last time they made the postseason. In 1984, San Diego rebounded from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Chicago Cubs and advance to the World Series.

“I’d love to see a flashback of 1984, but the Cardinals are a good club,” Tony Gwynn said. “They’re going to be tough.”

St. Louis had blown a 4-1 lead, allowing San Diego to tie it in the eighth on Steve Finley’s RBI groundout.

Brian Jordan drew a leadoff walk in the eighth off Doug Bochtler and advanced on a groundout before John Mabry, who hadn’t hit the ball out of the infield in six playoff at-bats, was intentionally walked.

Bochtler’s wild pitch moved the runners into scoring position, and Pagnozzi lined a 1-1 pitch just to the left of Hoffman, who got the tip of his glove on the ball but couldn’t catch it. The ball caromed to second baseman Jody Reed, who threw to first as Jordan scored.

Hoffman said everything happened too fast.

“I thought it was a screaming (line drive) coming back at me,” Hoffman said. “It was like waking up running in a dream and you’re not going anywhere.”

Dennis Eckersley, who turned 42 Thursday, pitched a perfect ninth for his second save of the series and the 13th of his postseason career.

Eckersley retired pinch-hitter Greg Vaughn on a grounder to third for the final out, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

“I’ll tell you what, you don’t feel 42 when the crowd is electric like that,” Eckersley said. “I’m just glad I have enough experience not to get too psyched.”