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Tied at one run apiece through the first three innings, the Padres took a one-run lead in the fourth inning against Cardinal starter Matthew Liberatore when Bryce Johnson’s bunt scored Jake Cronenworth from third base. The Cardinals were held to two hits and a walk through the fourth inning through the eighth in a 3-1 loss to the Padres.

The Cardinals (54-52) threatened a comeback in the ninth inning by getting the game-tying run at the plate with one out. A force out at second base of Willson Contreras ended their comeback threat.

Though the two clubs combined for four runs, Saturday’s contest did not lack fireworks.

Following a benches and dugouts-clearing moment in the second inning on Friday, the Cardinals and Padres benched and dugouts cleared in the ninth inning on Saturday.

After starter Randy Vasquez’s fastball that hit Willson Contreras’ left wrist in the fourth inning caused some emotions to flare, an inside pitch from starter Matthew Liberatore in the next half inning that clipped Manny Machado drew warnings for both teams. In the ninth inning, an 0-2 fastball from rookie Andre Granillo drew frustration out of Machado and caused both benches and dugouts to empty onto the field.

Cardinals assistant coach Jon Jay was the only player or coach who was ejected following the on-field fracas.

Making his first start in just over two weeks, Liberatore allowed two runs (one earned), five hits, and two walks over 4 1/3 innings. Liberatore reached 77 pitches in the outing.

Tensions flare in the fourth

Frustrated when he was hit by Nick Pivetta’s hit by pitch on Friday, Contreras fell to the ground to avoid an inside fastball from Vasquez early in their encounter in the fourth inning. The six-pitch at-bat ended when Vasquez’s 95.2 mph fastball hit Contreras on his left wrist.

Contreras threw his hands down in frustration and began walking down the first base line. While the umpire met on the infield grass, Contreras was visited by manager Oliver Marmol and a team trainer to check on his wrist. Contreras remained in the game, as did Vasquez. No warnings or ejections were issued at that time.

The tension between the two clubs flowed into the top of the fifth inning when Liberatore’s first pitch to Machado was thrown inside and seemingly caught his elbow. Warnings were issued to both clubs, and Liberatore remained in the game to face one more batter before being relieved by Leahy.

Small ball Pads

To push across their second run against Liberatore, the Padres received a double from Cronenworth to begin the fourth inning and moved him around the base with the contact that not only didn’t leave the infield, but also didn’t roll past the pitcher’s mound.

With Cronenworth standing on second base following a ground out to first base by Jose Iglesias, Johnson collected his second RBI of the game on a bunt to first base that Contreras fielded on the run nearly halfway down the first base line.

Although he delivered an accurate throw to catcher Pedro Pages, Contreras’s throw was not in time to nab Cronenworth.

Defensive gems

From a pair of leaping plays by Brendan Donovan, to a sliding grab by Masyn Winn, and to an off-balance throw from Nolan Arenado on a ball he ranged to his right to haul in, the Cardinals’ infield proved beneficial to their pitching.

In the fourth inning, Donovan’s timed leap helped Liberatore limit the Padres to one run in the frame. On a ball Fernando Tatis Jr. lined up the middle, Donovan left his feet to snag a flaring line drive that looked as if it was going to sail over the 5-foot-11 second baseman’s head. The timed leap recorded the second out of the inning and kept runners at first and third base as the Padres led 2-1.

Donovan provided another well-timed play in the eighth inning to steal a hit from Xander Bogaerts.

Bogaerts’s line drive that jumped off his bat at 107.6 mph caromed off the pitcher’s mound and was on a trajectory to center field. With his momentum taking him behind the second base bag, Donovan leapt to haul in the redirected line drive and made a quick, accurate throw to first to beat Bogaerts.

In between Donovan’s two leaping grabs, the Cardinals received a slick play from Arenado in the fifth inning and another from Winn in the seventh.

On Arenado’s grab, the multi-time Gold Glover ranged toward the third base line to make a backhanded pick on a groundball pulled by Bogaerts with a runner on first base and one out in the fifth inning. With his momentum taking him into foul territory, Arenado made a leaping throw across his body to retire the lead runner.

Two innings later, Winn made a sliding grab on a ball Luis Arraez hit toward left field, popped up to his feet, and threw out Arraez at first base.