The Sports Xchange
May 8, 2017
MIAMI -- Pitcher Carlos Martinez drove in a career-high four runs to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 9-4 victory over the Miami Marlins on Monday night at Marlins Park.
Martinez, who had been hitless in 11 at-bats this season, went 2-for-3 with a double and a single. Six runners scored while he was at the plate, although he only got credit for four RBIs as two came in on an error.
The Cards (17-14) have won 14 of their past 19 games. They have also won seven consecutive road games, and their starting pitchers lead the majors in ERA.
As a pitcher on Monday, Martinez (2-3) allowed five hits, two walks and three runs in six innings. He struck out seven and walked two.
Miguel Socolovich pitched the final three innings for his first major league save.
Miami (13-17) was led by left fielder Marcell Ozuna, who had two homers and three RBIs.
Otherwise, it was another dreary night for the Marlins, who are 3-10 in their past 13 games. Starter Adam Conley (2-3) allowed six hits, three walks and seven runs in 3 2/3 innings, and manager Don Mattingly got ejected after he argued a called third strike on Derek Dietrich to end the second inning. It was Mattingly's second ejection of the season.
St. Louis opened the scoring with Martinez's two-out, three-run double to left in the second inning.
In the fourth, Martinez added a run-scoring single to left that was hit off the end of his bat. That was part of a four-run inning that included a two-run triple by Matt Carpenter and a run-scoring double by Jedd Gyorko.
Miami cut its deficit to 7-2 in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run homer by Ozuna.
St. Louis increased its lead to 9-2 in the fifth. With runners on second and third, Martinez bounced to second baseman Dee Gordon, whose throw home got away for an error on catcher J.T. Realmuto. Martinez did not get credit for an RBI, but two more runners scored while he was at the plate.
Ozuna homered again in the sixth, a solo shot that cut Miami's deficit to 9-3. It was his 11th homer of the season.
Giancarlo Stanton added a solo homer in the ninth. It was his 11th of the season as well, tying Ozuna for the team lead.
NOTES: Miami has lost its past four series. ... Miami placed 3B Martin Prado (hamstring) on the disabled list and recalled SS J.T. Riddle from Triple-A New Orleans. Riddle hit a walk-off homer for the Marlins earlier this season. ... Marlins INF Miguel Rojas (swollen thumb) is on the active roster but may need a couple days before he can return to the lineup. ... The Cardinals have two outfielders on the disabled list: Stephen Piscotty (hamstring) and Jose Martinez (groin). CF Dexter Fowler (shoulder) is on the active roster but missed his fourth straight start. ... Cards INF Jhonny Peralta (upper-respiratory illness) is likely to return from the disabled list this week. ... The Marlins signed INF Mike Aviles, 36, to a minor league contract.