Tyler O'Neill's 2-run blasts lifts Cardinals past Padres

Tyler O'Neill hit a two-run homer to rally the St. Louis Cardinals past the visiting San Diego Padres 3-2 Saturday.

O'Neill's eighth-inning blast off reliever Emilio Pagan (4-2) erased San Diego's 2-1 lead and propelled the Cardinals to their seventh straight victory.

The Cardinals (78-69) pushed the lead over the Cincinnati Reds to two games and over the Padres (76-72) to 2 1/2 games in the race for the second National