San Diego center fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. dropped Nolan Arenado's bases-loaded popup and heaved the ball home, leading to a five-run first inning, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Padres 8-7 Sunday for an eight-game winning streak.
Tatis' brutal error and mental mistake - he chose not to make an easy throw to second or third for a forceout - came one day after his dugout dustup with teammate Manny Machado.
St. Louis completed a three-game sweep and opened a three-game lead for the second NL wild card over Cincinnati and Philadelphia, which played at the New York Mets later Sunday. The Cardinals had not won eight in a row since Aug. 7-15, 2018.
St. Louis was 8 1/2 games out of a wild card spot on Aug. 10.
San Diego, which trailed 8-4 in the eighth inning, has lost eight of 11 and dropped 3 1/2 games back of the Cardinals.
Jake Arrieta (5-14) left after six batters and 20 pitches because of a right adductor groin strain. He allowed five runs - four earned - three hits and a walk while getting one out.
St. Louis loaded the bases with no outs in the first when Tommy Edman doubled, Paul Goldschmidt singled and Tyler O'Neill walked.
Arenado hit a pop to center that Tatis settled under 226 feet from the plate and allowed to bounce out of his glove. Rather than throw to second or third for an easy forceout, the 22-year-old center fielder with the $340 million, 14-year contract rushed a one-hop throw that reached the plate well after Edman scored standing up.
Dylan Carlson followed with a sacrifice fly, Sosa hit an RBI double and Harrison Bader greeted Stammen with a two-run double for a 5-0 lead.
Former Cardinal Tommy Pham's 14th homer cut the gap to 7-4 in the sixth, and Carlson singled home a run off Dinelson Lamet in the seventh.
Pham hit a two-run double off Luis Garcia in the eighth and scored on Hosmer's groundout. With Myers on third, Genesis Cabrera induced Adam Frazier's inning-ending flyout.
Jake Woodford (2-3, 4.30 ERA) will start the first game of a four-game series in Milwaukee Monday night. The Brewers will counter with RHP Freddy Peralta (9-4, 2.57 ERA).
