ST. LOUIS, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- Yadier Molina had four of the 19 St. Louis hits Friday and drove in five runs to send the Cardinals coasting past San Diego 14-4.
St. Louis scored eight times in the first two innings and handed the Padres their third straight loss. San Diego began the night a half game behind San Francisco for the top spot in the National League West.
The Cardinals moved to within six games of Cincinnati in the National League Central, the Reds having lost to Houston.
Molina doubled home the last of the Cardinals' three runs in the first inning, had a two-run single during a five-run second and added an RBI double in the fourth.
Matt Holliday and Albert Pujols combined for five more RBI. One of the runs driven in by Holliday came on his 27th homer in the sixth.
Kyle Lohse (4-7) took advantage of the offense to get the win. He gave up seven hits and three runs in five innings.
Mat Latos (14-7) made the 37th and worst start of his two-year career, retiring only four batters while giving up eight runs on nine hits.
