Consistent approach paying off for Aledmys

ST. LOUIS — Nine days ago, rookie shortstop Aledmys Diaz struck out looking against Astros closer Will Harris as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning of the All-Star Game. He let the bat sit on his shoulder with the bases loaded, watching a 3-2 pitch cross the plate for strike three.

He wasn’t about to let that happen again on Thursday night, when he lined a walk-off single to left field off Carlos Villanueva to give the Cardinals a 6-5 win and a four-game sweep of the Padres.

“I remember the All-Star Game, I had the same chance,” Diaz said. “I think today it was just being aggressive. I tried to hit a fly ball and hit a good pitch. [Villanueva] made very good pitches. He hit me with two pretty good sliders, and when I got to 3-2, I just was looking for something up [to try] to put it in play, and he threw me a fastball.”

It was Diaz’s first walk-off in the Major Leagues. His only other game-ending hit came for his …

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