Marlins 8 - 4 Cardinals
Final
  for this game

Saltalamacchia, Alvarez lift Marlins over Cardinals

Jul 7, 2014 - 12:40 AM St. Louis, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a three-run homer and Henderson Alvarez tossed seven solid innings as the Marlins took an 8-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in the rubber match of a three-game set.

Casey McGehee finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored while Jeff Baker and Marcell Ozuna both had two hits and two RBI for Miami, which won the final two games after dropping Friday's series opener.

Alvarez (6-3) conceded just one run on five hits with three strikeouts for the Marlins, who have won a franchise-record 10 straight starts with the right- hander on the mound.

"He's really stepped up and taken over that ace role for us," said McGehee about Alvarez. "He pretty much did today what he has done all year for us."

Kolten Wong homered and scored twice while Matt Adams supplied a career-high four hits. Marco Gonzales (0-2) was tagged with the loss in his third career start after giving up just one run on seven hits and five walks across 4 2/3 frames.

"We can't dictate where the ball is going once we make contact. All we can do is stick with our approach," said Adams.

Christian Yelich and Ed Lucas both singled to open the game for the Marlins. Giancarlo Stanton grounded into a double play that moved Yelich over to third. McGehee's grounder up the middle brought Yelich around for an early lead.

The Marlins loaded the bases in the fifth and the sixth. Stanton led off with a single and Baker and Saltalamacchia both worked two-out walks, ending Gonzales' outing. Seth Maness diffused the threat after getting Adeiny Hechavarria to ground out and end the inning.

In the sixth, Alvarez and Yelich both singled and Nick Greenwood intentionally walked McGehee to load the bases with two outs. Ozuna's single to left drove in two runners and Baker's base hit up the middle made it a 4-0 game.

Wong got the Cardinals on the board in the seventh after smashing a first- pitch fastball over the wall in right.

Miami responded with four runs in the eighth. Baker drove in a run with a single to left and Saltalamacchia stroked a three-run shot into the Cardinals bullpen in right, giving the Marlins an 8-1 lead.

Kevin Gregg started the eighth for the Marlins. Peter Bourjos raced to second on a one-out double and came home on the very next pitch after Adams smacked a ground-rule double that bounced off the warning track and into the seats in left-center field. Adams moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Allen Craig's groundout, making it an 8-3 game.

Wong singled and scored on Daniel Descalso's double to the corner in right off Dan Jennings to start the ninth. Chris Hatcher entered the game and stranded runners at first and third to prevent further damage.

Game Notes

McGehee extended his career-high hitting streak to 13 games. He has also reached base safely in 30 straight games and has hit in 20 consecutive road contests ... Alvarez has not lost a game since May 11 against San Diego ... Hechavarria returned to the lineup after landing on the disabled list on June 25 with a right triceps strain ... The Cardinals activated Wong from the DL prior to the game.






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