Marlins 3 - 6 Cardinals
Final
  for this game

Berkman helps Cards down Marlins

May 5, 2011 - 11:08 PM

Video

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Lance Berkman hit a three-run homer and had four RBI to help the Cardinals beat the Marlins, 6-3, and split a four-game series.

Cardinals starter Jake Westbrook carried a perfect game into the fifth inning and went 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out eight. But Jason Motte (1-0) earned the win for tossing one inning of scoreless relief.

Albert Pujols went 3-for-3 with a run scored for the Cardinals, who have won six of their last nine.

Josh Johnson (3-1) pitched 7 1/3 innings and took the loss, allowing five runs on eight hits and four walks while fanning seven to give Florida just its second loss in its last five games.

"It's part of the game. I came out pretty aggressive with decent pitches," said Johnson of his performance. "There was a broken bat and then there was a little blooper. You don't want that stuff to happen, but they were decent pitches so you can't get too upset."

Matt Holliday had an RBI single in the first to score Colby Rasmus and give the Cards a 1-0 lead.

Greg Dobbs broke up Westbrook's perfect game bid with two outs in the fifth inning with a single, and was followed by consecutive singles by John Buck and Omar Infante that brought home Dobbs. Johnson then hit a fourth consecutive single to score Buck and give Florida a 2-1 advantage.

Berkman's sacrifice fly in the sixth tied the game at two.

Florida took back the lead in the seventh on Infante's RBI single that plated Buck and forced Westbrook from the game.

The Cardinals knotted the game again in the eighth on consecutive singles by Rasmus, Pujols, and Holliday that knocked Johnson off the mound.

Michael Dunn entered in relief and quickly gave up a three-run shot to Berkman that gave St. Louis a 6-3 lead.

"The character of this ballclub is outstanding. We've shown it already in the first month, and I don't think anything is going to change...We have an opportunity to have a very special team," said Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa.

Eduardo Sanchez entered in the ninth for St. Louis and walked Gaby Sanchez before inducing a double play off the bat of Mike Stanton. Wes Helms then worked a walk, but Buck grounded out to end the game and give the reliever his third save of the season.

Game Notes

Dobbs left the game with a right ankle sprain in the seventh inning and is day-to-day...Holliday extended his hit streak to 11 games...Johnson threw 114 pitches -- 65 for strikes...Both teams went 3-for-7 with runners in scoring position.






Related News