MIA 4, STL 6: Marlins unable to come up with the big hit

After getting swept in Baltimore, the Marlins came into St. Louis looking to get their first win after the All-Star break. However, this would not be their night. Nolan Arenado was determined to get the Cardinals the win and he helped push them past the Marlins in the series opener on Monday, 6-4.  

The Marlins used the long ball for half of their runs and it would start in the second when Bryan De La Cruz hit a no-doubt solo shot to left-center field for a 1-0 lead. The Marlins would then scrape across another run in the fifth with three consecutive two-out singles. The singles came from Nick Fortes, Dane Myers, and Luis Arraez. The Marlins fell behind 3-2 in the fifth, but Jesús Sánchez would tie the game with a solo shot, his 10^th home run of the year.  

The Cardinals offense was led by Nolan Arenado, who racked up four RBIs on two hits. After a Dylan Carlson double in the third, Arenado lined a single to get him home, then in the fourth, Carlson was on third base with one out and Arenado would hit a sac fly to center field to score him.  

Dylan Floro came one strike away from ending the sixth inning while preserving the 3-3 tie, but he gave up a double to Nolan Gorman and Dylan Carlson would bring him in with a single. Paul Goldschmidt followed him with a single of his own. Arenado then stepped up and lined a double to center field scoring Carlson and Goldschmidt to put the Cardinals up 6-3. Floro has allowed 45 hits this season, nearly matching his total from 2022 (48).

The Marlins were trailing by three runs entering the seventh inning, but they began to rally. It started with Dane Myers' second hit of the game—with this performance, he has now had multi-hit games in 6 of his first 10 career games. Soler then got plunked and Cooper followed him with a single that drove in Myers.

Then with two outs, Bryan De La Cruz stepped up in the biggest spot of the game with the bases loaded. He worked a full count and hit a sharp ground ball to the shortstop to kill the Marlins rally and leave them trailing 6-4. De La Cruz had previously been a .435 hitter (10-for-23) in his career with the bases loaded.

The Marlins would show even more fight in the ninth. They would get runners on the corners representing the potential tying runs, but Jordan Hicks got Jesús Sánchez to ground out to second to end the game.  

Jesús Luzardo was not his best as he would only pitch four innings, giving up five hits and two earned runs. After striking out eight in his last outing against the Cardinals, Luzardo only K'd two. For the first time since September 20^th, 2021, he walked more batters than he struck out. His command was just not totally there, and he wasn't able to generate as many swings-and-misses as he usually does.  

Meanwhile, Miles Mikolas was able to give the Cardinals a solid outing all things considered. He threw six innings in which he gave up three runs, and he now ranks fourth in the majors in innings pitched (121.2 IP). The veteran right-hander only struck out three, but he was able to get the Marlins to hit into outs and let his defense work for him.  

Looking Ahead

The Marlins take on the Cardinals again Tuesday at 7:45 EST and it will most likely be Edward Cabrera's return from the injured list. Cabrera last pitched for the Marlins on June 13 (right shoulder impingement). On the mound for the Cardinals is Jordan Montgomery, who last faced the Marlins as a member of the Yankees in 2021.