Marlins' solid pitching, hitting too much for Cardinals

Janson Junk allowed just one hit and a walk over five innings, and Jakob Marsee drove in a pair as the Miami Marlins beat the visiting St. Louis Cardinals 4-1 on Wednesday to claim the deciding contest of their three-game series.

Junk (1-2) pitched efficiently, needing just 56 pitches to go five. He struck out two and only gave up a single to Pedro Pages in the third and a fifth-inning bases on balls to Nathan Church as the right-hander posted his first victory since Aug. 6, 2025.

Javier Sanoja had his third three-hit game of the season, getting three singles in four at-bats to lead a 12-hit attack, all singles, for the Marlins. Augustin Ramirez went 2-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI, and Heriberto Ramirez enjoyed a 2-for-4 day with a run scored.

Miami jumped ahead thanks to a two-run second inning. Liam Hicks started the frame with a leadoff single off Kyle Leahy (2-3), and Ramirez followed with another hit. After Hernandez forced Hicks at third, Owen Caissie singled home Ramirez.

Leo Jimenez took first, getting hit by a pitch to load the bases. Sanoja popped out, but Marsee added to the Marlins' lead by drawing a walk.

Marsee made it 3-0 in the fourth when his one-out single brought home Jimenez. In the next inning, Ramirez's second hit of the game scored Otto Lopez.

Leahy gave up eight hits and walked three over five innings. All four runs he allowed were earned as the right-hander struck out a pair.

It stayed 4-0 until the top of the ninth. Ivan Herrera welcomed Lake Bachar with a home run, his third of the season, and Nolan Gorman walked. Bachar did get Ramon Urias to pop out before right-hander Pete Fairbanks came in to get Jose Fermin on a warning-track flyout to left fielder Hernandez and struck out Church swinging to earn his fifth save.

Andrew Nardi, Anthony Bender and Michael Petersen combined for three scoreless innings in relief for the Marlins. They gave up just two hits and struck out six.

--Field Level Media