The San Diego Padres are in a rough patch, and Tuesday night’s loss to the St. Louis Cardinals was a particularly tough pill for Friar Faithful to swallow. The offense has been struggling, but it wasn’t the bats that cost them this game—it was a rare defensive lapse that turned a manageable inning into a nightmare.

In the fifth inning, with the bases loaded, Cardinals rookie JJ Wetherholt hit a routine single to right field. It should have been just one run, with a play at the plate to get the lead runner. But in a moment that left fans stunned, Fernando Tatis Jr.—who hadn’t made an error since May of last year—saw the ball slip under his glove as he charged in. The ball rolled all the way to the wall, turning a single into a little league grand slam. It was a costly mistake, and this time, there was no controversy: it was simply a tough play that got away.

The Padres’ offense didn’t do them any favors either, failing to score against St. Louis pitching despite having opportunities. They’ll need to find some runs tonight to turn things around in what’s been a difficult stretch of baseball.

On the mound for the Cardinals was right-hander Dustin May, who has been middling but healthy in May, posting a 5.15 ERA over 36 2/3 innings. For May, health is the real victory—2025 was his first season pitching more than 60 innings, finishing with 132 1/3 frames and a 4.96 ERA. That durability earned him a modest contract in St. Louis. The Padres have seen plenty of May from his days with the Dodgers, and they’ve hit him well in the past. There’s no reason to think they can’t do it again—they just need to scratch some runs across after a quiet series.

San Diego’s own right-hander, Randy Vásquez, has been electric for most of the season, but his last two starts have been shaky. In 10 2/3 innings, he’s allowed eight runs, bumping his ERA up from a sparkling 1.00. The Friars will need him to rediscover his form if they hope to right the ship. For now, it’s about bouncing back and finding that winning edge again.