ST. LOUIS, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- Jake Westbrook threw eight shutout innings Thursday and the St. Louis Cardinals ended a three-game skid with a 4-0 victory over San Diego.
The Padres, who began the night with a half-game lead over San Francisco in the National League West, lost to a Central Division team for just the eighth time in 31 contests this season.
St. Louis climbed within seven games of division-leading Cincinnati in the NL Central but the Cardinals have only 17 games remaining in which to catch the Reds.
Westbrook gave up six hits, walked three and struck out three in his first win since Aug. 13. It was his ninth start for the Cardinals since being acquired from Cleveland July 31.
He has only a 2-3 record with St. Louis and an overall record this season of 8-10.
Matt Holliday singled in a run in the first and St. Louis added three in the sixth -- two of them coming in on a single by Yadier Molina.
Tim Stauffer (4-4) took the loss, surrendering six hits and four runs in five-plus innings.
