With a fifth-inning single, Miami Marlins outfielder Ichiro Suzuki reached 4,191 hits combined in Japan and Major League Baseball on Friday, tying Ty Cobb’s career hit total.
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That gave St. Louis the all-important first run in a game it went on to win 3-1, Carpenter adding a 419-foot solo homer in the eighth for insurance.
Cobb held the hits record for decades before Pete Rose passed him in 1985 on the way to 4,256. He was looking for his first shutout since 2011.
Meanwhile, on your computer or smart phone at wjbc.com at 6:20, the Normal CornBelters begin a three-game series at the Corn Crib with the Washington Wild Things in a 6:35 game. Hand is 2-1 with a 3.57 ERA as a starter, allowing one run in 11 innings in his last two after giving up a run and two hits in seven to earn Sunday’s 4-1 victory at Atlanta.
The Redbirds went down in order in the first, third and fourth innings, thanks to a pair of fine defensive plays by the Marlins. First baseman Mark Reynolds slammed a one-out double in the fifth, moved to third on Garcia’s groundout and scored when Carpenter dropped a surprising bunt down the third-base line for an RBI single.
Garcia upped his record to 5-4, scattering six hits along the way.
It was apparent from the start that Miami (46-69) was no match for Garcia’s darting 90 miles per hour fastball. 253 for the season after going 1 for 4 against the Cardinals. He lowered his ERA in 11 starts to 1.57. Matt Carpenter went 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs on Friday and is 14-for-38 with five blasts and 10 RBIs during his 10-game hitting streak.
The Marlins scored an unearned run when Cole Gilliespie singled and right fielder Jason Heyward mishandled the ball for an error.
After three games with Miami, the Cardinals will host San Francisco for three.
NOTES: Miami CF Christian Yelich (right knee contusion) didn’t start for the third straight game.
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Lynn (9-7) could not not escape the opening inning, allowing six hits and seven runs (three earned) in just 2/3 of an inning. “You’re always a little gun shy; that’s always the danger of bringing a young guy up too soon before you’re ready because one of those can set him back significantly”. All 17 starts he has made at Busch Stadium since he was traded last year have qualified as quality.
