Michael McGreevy did not have his best stuff Monday night and the Miami Marlins took advantage of his mistakes beating the St. Louis Cardinals 5-3, but Jordan Walker did extend his hitting streak to 15 games.
Monday night’s game began as a pitcher’s duel. The Cardinals missed a golden opportunity to score in the top of the 1st inning after JJ Wetherholt and Ivan Herrera were both hit by pitches, but Alec Burleson grounded out, Jordan Walker struck out and Nolan Gorman grounded out stranding both of them.
There was no score until the top of the 4th inning when Jordan Walker hit a sharp single up the middle, stole second base then advanced to third base on a wild pitch by Max Meyer. Walker scored the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly by Masyn Winn making it 1-0 Cardinals.
A walk by Michael McGreevy in the bottom of the 4th inning came back to haunt him. He walked Kyle Stowers with one out. Stowers advanced to second on a fielder’s choice and then scored on a ground rule double by Xavier Edwards tying the game 1-1. The Marlins would take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the 5th inning when Agustin Ramirez crushed a home run to deep left center.
The Cardinals tied the game in the top of the 6th inning when Jordan Walker walked. After Nolan Gorman flied out, Walker advanced to third base when Masyn Winn singled. He scored on a wild pitch by Calvin Faucher who had just entered the game in relief of Meyer. Meyer had 8 strikeouts over his 5 1/3 innings with 2 walks and 2 earned runs.
The Marlins would regain the lead in the bottom of the 6th inning when Stowers singled and scored after Lopez doubled. McGreevy would give up a walk to Edwards. Hicks then singled which scored Lopez, but Edwards was thrown out at home by an excellent cutoff throw by Masyn Winn giving the Marlins a 4-2 lead. Matt Svanson got the last out of the bottom of the 6th inning. Michael McGreevy completed 5 2/3 innings allowing 5 hits, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts and 4 earned runs.
Miami would add an insurance run in the bottom of the 8th when Lopez and Edwards were walked by relief pitcher Ryan Fernandez. Liam Hicks then singled which scored Lopez making it 5-2 Marlins, but Jordan Walker fired a cannon to third base to nail Edwards.
The Cardinals tried to mount another 9th inning comeback as Masyn Winn hit the first triple of the season for St. Louis and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ramón Urías making it 5-3 Marlins, but that was all they could muster after Saggese and Fermin struck out.
The Cardinals will send Dustin May to the mound for the 2nd game against Miami Tuesday night as Chris Paddack will start the game for the Marlins. First pitch is scheduled for 5:40pm central time Tuesday.
