Fernando Tatis Jr. had a tiebreaking two-run single in the fifth inning to back Randy Vásquez (4-1), who gave up one run and six hits while striking out six in five innings.
Mason Miller got the final out of the eighth but the Padres’ closer ran into some uncharacteristic trouble in the ninth, walking two batters before Yahel Pozo reached when he struck out on a slider in the dirt. Miller escaped the jam by setting down JJ Wetherholt looking on a 101 mph fastball for his fourth strikeout of the inning.
The dominant right-hander has been scored on in just one of his 18 outings this season and has a major league-leading 12 saves in as many opportunities.
Machado homered in the eighth off reliever Matt Svanson to make it 4-2. He also hit 162 homers for Baltimore and 13 in half a season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Nathan Church gave the Cardinals a 1-0 lead in the fourth with an RBI double.
The Padres tied it in the fifth when France homered to center off Dustin May (3-4). Later in the frame, Tatis blooped a single to right to make it 3-1. May surrendered three runs on three hits and struck out seven in six innings.
Up next
Cardinals RHP Kyle Leahy (4-3, 4.93 ERA) will start opposite Padres RHP Walker Buehler (2-2, 15.64) on Sunday as San Diego seeks a split of the four-game series. First pitch from Petco Park is scheduled for 3:10. Sunday’s game will be broadcast on KTLO AM 1240 with pregame coverage by Ameren Total Access starting at 2:15.
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