Coverage of today's Cards and Pirates game can be heard on Newstalk 97.3 WTIM beginning at 6:40pm.
St. Louis, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a three-run
homer and Henderson Alvarez tossed seven solid innings as the Marlins took an
8-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in the rubber match of a three-game
set.
Casey McGehee finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored while Jeff
Baker and Marcell Ozuna both had two hits and two RBI for Miami, which won the
final two games after dropping Friday's series opener.
Alvarez (6-3) conceded just one run on five hits with three strikeouts for the
Marlins, who have won a franchise-record 10 straight starts with the right-
hander on the mound.
"He's really stepped up and taken over that ace role for us," said McGehee
about Alvarez. "He pretty much did today what he has done all year for us."
Kolten Wong homered and scored twice while Matt Adams supplied a career-high
four hits. Marco Gonzales (0-2) was tagged with the loss in his third career
start after giving up just one run on seven hits and five walks across 4 2/3
frames.
"We can't dictate where the ball is going once we make contact. All we can do
is stick with our approach," said Adams.
Christian Yelich and Ed Lucas both singled to open the game for the Marlins.
Giancarlo Stanton grounded into a double play that moved Yelich over to third.
McGehee's grounder up the middle brought Yelich around for an early lead.
The Marlins loaded the bases in the fifth and the sixth. Stanton led off with
a single and Baker and Saltalamacchia both worked two-out walks, ending
Gonzales' outing. Seth Maness diffused the threat after getting Adeiny
Hechavarria to ground out and end the inning.
In the sixth, Alvarez and Yelich both singled and Nick Greenwood intentionally
walked McGehee to load the bases with two outs. Ozuna's single to left
drove in two runners and Baker's base hit up the middle made it a 4-0 game.
Wong got the Cardinals on the board in the seventh after smashing a first-
pitch fastball over the wall in right.
Miami responded with four runs in the eighth. Baker drove in a run with a
single to left and Saltalamacchia stroked a three-run shot into the Cardinals
bullpen in right, giving the Marlins an 8-1 lead.
Kevin Gregg started the eighth for the Marlins. Peter Bourjos raced to second
on a one-out double and came home on the very next pitch after Adams smacked a
ground-rule double that bounced off the warning track and into the seats in
left-center field. Adams moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Allen
Craig's groundout, making it an 8-3 game.
Wong singled and scored on Daniel Descalso's double to the corner in right off
Dan Jennings to start the ninth. Chris Hatcher entered the game and stranded
runners at first and third to prevent further damage.
Game Notes
McGehee extended his career-high hitting streak to 13 games. He has also
reached base safely in 30 straight games and has hit in 20 consecutive road
contests ... Alvarez has not lost a game since May 11 against San Diego ...
Hechavarria returned to the lineup after landing on the disabled list on June
25 with a right triceps strain ... The Cardinals activated Wong from the DL
prior to the game.