Marlins Edge Redbirds

    The Miami Marlins held on to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 on Friday night at Marlins Park. It was a game in which the team with the worst record in major league baseball beat the team with the best record.
    Jose Fernandez improved to 4-3 as he went seven innings for the Fish, allowed two earned runs on three hits and struck out ten . He became the first pitcher under 21 years old to strike out at least ten batters since Felix Hernandez in 2007. Jake Westbrook dropped to 2-2 as he gave up three earned runs on eight hits in five innings pitched.
    St. Louis(43-24), who have an all-time record of 48-29 in Miami, put up two quick runs during the first inning against Fernandez. Matt Carpenter had a lead-off base hit into right field. Two batters later, he scored on a one-out single to left field by Allen Craig. Matt Holliday scored on a single to right field by Yadier Molina.
    Miami(20-46) tied the game with two runs off Westbrook in the bottom of the second. Derek Dietrich got to first on a Carpenter fielding error at second and then Adeiny Hechavarria singled to center field. Both advanced one base when Greg Dobbs grounded out to second. Jeff Mathis grounded out to second for Dietrich to score. Fernandez help his own cause when he singled to center field as Hechavarria scored.
    The Fish took the lead in the fourth inning. Dietrich had a lead-off base hit and was out at second on a fielder's choice. Dobbs followed with a double into left field as Hechavarria scored from first.
    In the fifth inning, the Marlins extended their lead to 5-2. Juan Pierre started with a double into left field and Ed Lucas was hit by a pitch. Both crossed the plate on double to deep center field by Giancarlo Stanton.
    The Cardinals cut the margin down to 5-3 in the sixth inning. Craig began with a single into center field. Three batters later, Craig scored on a two-out double by Jon Jay to deep center field.
    The Redbirds had one last rally against Chad Qualls in eighth inning, but they fell short of the win. After a lead-off single by Holliday, Craig struck out and Molina grounded out to the pitcher. David Freese knocked in Holliday with a two-out double to right field. Mike Dunn was brought in for Qualls and struck out Jay to end the frame.