ST. LOUIS - Matt Adams got a curtain call after the biggest swing of the game. Then the St. Louis Cardinals capitalized on the day’s biggest mistake.
Jon Jay scored from first on a single after right fielder Giancarlo Stanton’s throwing error with two outs in the ninth for a 5-4 victory over the Miami Marlins on Saturday.
“We’ve had a lot of close games like this that we couldn’t quite pull off at the end,” Manager Mike Matheny said. “So, it doesn’t matter to me.”
Edward Mujica (1-1) worked a scoreless ninth for the Cardinals after Adams’ pinch-hit, two-run home run tied it two innings earlier.
Jay drew a full-count walk off A.J.Ramos (3-3) with two outs in the ninth and took third easily on Robinson’s pinch-hit single, then scored without a play after Stanton hesitated before throwing a relay that skipped under Logan Morrison’s glove at first base.
“I was just trying to get the ball before it hit the ground,” Morrison said. “I should have played it back or just let it go because it was on the line.
“We should have won that game, no doubt about it, but we didn’t. Now it’s over and that’s why we play every day.”
The Marlins got home runs from Derek Dietrich and Morrison, but their run of four consecutive series victories ended after dropping the first two against the Cardinals.
CUBS 4, PIRATES 1 Alfonso Soriano hit two run home runs in consecutive innings to lead host Chicago to a victory over Pittsburgh. Edwin Jackson and three relievers combined on a five-hitter,and the Cubs handed the Pirates just their third loss in 14 games.
NATIONALS 5, PADRES 4 Bryce Harper drove in three runs after talking his way into Washington’s lineup, Ryan Zimmerman knocked in the go-ahead run and the Nationals rallied for a victory over visiting San Diego.
BRAVES 13, PHILLIES 4 Jason Heyward hit a three-run home run to lead an Atlanta offense that scored in all but two innings, Tim Hudson (5-7) pitched seven strong innings and the Braves set season highs for runs and hits in a rout of host Philadelphia.
BREWERS 7, METS 5 Jonathan Lucroy homered and Yovani Gallardo (7-8) scattered 6 hits over 6 innings while adding 2 hits and 2 runs scored to lead host Milwaukee to a victory over New York.
GIANTS 4, DODGERS 2 Madison Bumgarner (9-5) drove in 2 runs and struck out 9 in 7 innings, and host San Francisco beat Los Angeles.
INTERLEAGUE
REDS 13, MARINERS 4 Cesar Izturis drove in three runs, matching his season total, and Mat Latos doubled home two more, rallying host Cincinnati to a victory over Seattle.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
ROYALS 4, ATHLETICS 3 Jarrod Dyson delivered an infield single with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth inning, giving Kansas City a victory over Oakland.
TIGERS 9, INDIANS 4 Torii Hunter (Pine Bluff) drove in three runs, Miguel Cabrera cracked a two-run home run and visiting Detroit dominated Cleveland again, pounding the Indians for their fifth consecutive victory.
TWINS 6, BLUE JAYS 0 Brian Dozier hit a three-run home run, Mike Pelfrey and three relievers combined for a four-hitter and visiting Minnesota beat Toronto.
YANKEES 5, ORIOLES 4 Andy Pettitte (6-6) stopped the Orioles again, Eduardo Nunez returned with a go-ahead hit and host New York beat Baltimore for its sixth consecutive victory.
ASTROS 9, RANGERS 5 Jason Castro hit a tie breaking three-run home run hours after being chosen for his first All-Star team, and visiting Houston beat Yu Darvish and Texas. The catcher’s drive just to the right of the lawn in center field came off Robbie Ross in the seventh inning but made a loser of Darvish (8-5).
RAYS 3, WHITE SOX 0 Matt Moore won his fourth consecutive start to help host Tampa Bay beat All-Star selection Chris Sale (5-8) and Chicago. Moore (12-3) gave up 5 hits, 2 walks and struck out 6 over 6 1/3 innings.
Saturday’s games
NATIONAL LEAGUE St. Louis 5, Miami 4 Chicago Cubs 4, Pittsburgh 1 Washington 5, San Diego 4 Atlanta 13, Philadelphia 4 San Francisco 4, LA Dodgers 2 Milwaukee 7, NY Mets 6 Colorado at Arizona, (n)
AMERICAN LEAGUE NY Yankees 5, Baltimore 4 Minnesota 6, Toronto 0 Kansas City 4, Oakland 3 Detroit 9, Cleveland 4 Tampa Bay 3, Chicago White Sox 0 Houston 9, Texas 5 Boston at LA Angels, (n)
INTERLEAGUE Cincinnati 13, Seattle 4
Sports, Pages 26 on 07/07/2013