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Miller goes the distance as Cardinals top Blue Jays

Jun 7, 2014 - 11:39 PM Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - Shelby Miller pitched a complete game three- hitter and the St. Louis Cardinals upended the surging Toronto Blue Jays, 5-0, on Saturday to even this three-game set at Rogers Centre.

Miller (7-5) was nearly flawless against the best offense in the majors, striking out five with just one walk to end a personal three-game losing skid. Toronto, which had won six straight games and 15 of 17 overall, entered the day leading the major league with 314 runs and 89 homers.

Miller had a perfect game through 4 1/3 before missing outside with a 3-2 fastball and walking Adam Lind. He kept the no-hitter intact though, inducing a Brett Lawrie groundout before Juan Francisco flied to the warning track in center.

Reyes finally broke up the no-hit bid with two outs in the sixth, lacing a single to right. Melky Cabrera then doubled sharply off the glove of a diving Allen Craig, putting two runners in scoring position with two outs for Jose Bautista. Miller got Bautista chasing a high fastball to end the inning.

"(Miller) was tremendous," said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons. "They have a good pitching staff over there, as good as anybody in baseball. We hit a couple balls that we thought might have a chance, but they flagged them down."

Earlier, Randall Grichuk put the Cardinals in front with the first homer in his major league career, a solo shot to center in the fifth inning off Toronto starter Mark Buehrle (10-2).

"I'm just glad I got it," said Grichuk, referring to his first home run. "I got it out of the way."

Buehrle, who had won six straight decisions, was the hard-luck loser in this one after yielding just the one run on five hits over seven frames.

Craig's double off Aaron Loup in the eighth led to a couple insurance runs. Jhonny Peralta was intentionally walked to set up a force at any bag, but Oscar Taveras grounded a single into right and Mark Ellis drew a walk to force in a run and make it 2-0.

Peter Bourjos struck out looking for the second out before Tony Cruz padded the cushion with a two-run single to center. Reliever Steve Delabar then issued a pair of walks, forcing in another run to result in the final tally.

Game Notes

Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, mired in a 3-for-29 slump, was given the day off ... Cabrera had two of Toronto's three hits ... Toronto's Drew Hutchison will oppose Jaime Garcia of the Cardinals in Sunday's rubber match.