MIAMI – Nolan Arenado hit a two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Miami Marlins 2-0 Wednesday night.
Arenado, who had struck out in his first three at-bats, launched a fastball from Miami reliever Anthony Bender (0-2) over the wall in left-center for his fifth home run.
Tyler O’Neill reached on a one-out walk before Arenado’s blast.
Genesis Cabrera (1-0) pitched the bottom of the eighth and Giovanny Gallegos worked around a single and walk in the ninth for his third save.
St. Louis has beaten Miami in nine straight games.
The Cardinals will try for their third consecutive three-game sweep against the Marlins on Thursday.
Starters Sandy Alcantara of Miami and Miles Mikolas of St. Louis combined to throw 13 scoreless innings in their outings.
Alcantara pitched eight innings and allowed four hits, with six strikeouts and one walk.
Mikolas matched Alcantara through the first five innings before he was lifted after allowing Garrett Cooper’s leadoff single in the sixth. Mikolas scattered four hits, struck out five, and hit a batter.
The Marlins had just one runner reach scoring position until the ninth inning.
Alcantara allowed Tommy Edman’s leadoff single and walked Paul Goldschmidt in the first before retiring Tyler O’Neill, Nolan Arenado, and Corey Dickerson to escape the 28-pitch jam.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Marlins: RHP Paul Campbell (right elbow strain) was placed on the 10-day injured list.
LHP Daniel Castano was recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville.
CARLSON SITS
Mired in a 1-for-24 slump, Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson didn’t play, and Tommy Edman moved into the leadoff spot.
Manager Oliver Marmol considered it a mental blow for Carlson and he will return to the lineup Thursday.
OUTSIDE VIEW
The retractable roof at loanDepot Park has remained shut through the Marlins’ first six home games this season, but there was a view of the downtown Miami skyline on Wednesday.
The windows behind left and the center field stayed open throughout the game.
UP NEXT
RHP Jordan Hicks (1-0, 0.00) will make his first career start for the Cardinals in the series finale Thursday.
After 114 relief appearances during his first three seasons in St. Louis, Hicks initially will have limited innings and pitches as he adapts to his new role.
The Marlins will go with RHP Pablo López (1-0, 0.87).
