Eckstein’s grounder enough to end slide

ST. LOUIS — Any win is exciting for the St. Louis Cardinals right now, no matter how it falls into their lap.

Jhonny Peralta’s throwing error, one of two by the Cleveland Indians in the ninth inning, allowed the winning run to score in the Cardinals’ 5-4 victory Wednesday night that ended an eight-game losing streak. The skid was the franchise’s longest since 1988.

“After all those games, you just want to find a way to win one,” said David Eckstein, whose routine grounder ended up producing the big run. “The bottom line is ending up winning.”

Backup catcher Kelly Shoppach, who entered as part of a double switch in the eighth, dropped So Taguchi’s pop fly just in front of home plate to start the inning for a two-base error. Aaron Miles’ RBI double off Bob Wickman (1-3) with one out tied the score. Miles was on third for Eckstein’s routine, two-out grounder to shortstop, and Peralta’s throw in the dirt eluded first baseman Victor Martinez.

Peralta admitted hurrying his throw to Martinez, who moved from catcher to first in the eighth.

“I know he’s running as fast as he can,” Peralta said. “I tried to throw it as fast as I could. It had a bad hop.”

Shoppach blamed himself for getting the rally going.

“It was my ball,” he said. “I’ve made that play before. I wanted that ball in that situation.”

When the winning run scored, fans tossed hundreds of seat cushions, the giveaway for the game, onto the field.

Jason Isringhausen (2-3) gave up Aaron Boone’s go-ahead sacrifice fly in the Indians’ three-run eighth. Isringhausen, who allowed two hits and no runs in 1 2/3 innings, was one of four relievers used by the Cardinals in the eighth.

Grady Sizemore had four hits and an RBI for the Indians, who ended a string of seven straight series losses by winning the first two games. Not that it was any consolation to manager Eric Wedge.

“It was a total defensive collapse,” Wedge said. “It was an embarrassing ending to what potentially could have been a real big game for us.”

Chris Carpenter left with a 3-1 lead after working seven strong innings, getting his last out after medical attention for a cramp in his hand, and Scott Rolen homered for the Cardinals.

Todd Hollandsworth’s shallow pop fly with the bases loaded that fell between left fielder Taguchi, inserted as a defensive substitute in that inning, and shortstop Eckstein, was the key to the Indians’ eighth. Eckstein appeared to peel away and Taguchi had his glove out but missed the ball, then recovered too late for any play on a ball ruled a hit.

Eckstein said Taguchi called for the ball.

“I probably could have caught it, but So called it,” Eckstein said. “It’s one of those things that nothing just seemed to go our way.”