Marlins Put Down Cards

    The Miami Marlins took the rubber game of a three-game series as they topped the St. Louis Cardinals 7-2 on Sunday at Marlins Park. The Fish, who had the worst record in the majors, beat the Cards with the best record in baseball twice in the last three days. The Cardinals were held to five hits in this game.
    Miami(23-47) struck quickly against Tyler Lyons with two runs in the first inning. Juan Pierre led off with a base hit to center and advanced to third on a double to left-center field by Giancarlo Stanton two batters later. Justin Ruggiano knocked both of them in on a single to right-center field.
    St. Louis(44-25) put up one run in the third inning off Ricky Nolasco. Daniel Descalso hit a lead-off single to right field and later went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Lyons. Two batters later, Jon Jay brought Descalso in on a single to left field.
    In the fourth inning, the Marlins added two runs with a two-out rally. Placido Polanco, who was facing his former team, singled into right-center field. Jeff Mathis was hit by a pitch and Nolasco walked to load the bases. Polanco and Mathis came in on a two-run single by Juan Pierre to right.
    Two more runs by the Fish in the fifth inning made it 6-1. Ruggiano reached base on an infield single. After Derek Dietrich popped out to first, Adeiny Hechavarria got a base hit to center as Ruggiano went to third on the play. Polanco doubled to center field which scored Ruggiano and Hechavarria with two out.
    Seth Maness allowed one run in the bottom of the seventh to the Marlins. Ruggiano grounded out and Dietrich then doubled to left field. Dietrich scored when Hechavarria followed with a base hit to right field.
    The Redbirds mustered one run in the top of the ninth against Chad Qualls. Allen Craig walked with one out and advanced to second on a David Freese ground out. Matt Adams knocked Adams in on a single to left-center field.
    Nolasco upped his record to 4-7 as he allowed one run on three hits in seven innings pitched. Lyons surrendered six runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings as he fell to 2-3.