Suzuki gets 3 hits, up to 2,994 as Marlins beat Cardinals

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Ichiro Suzuki doubled, singled twice and had another hit taken away on a replay challenge, leaving him six shy of 3,000 in the Miami Marlins' 6-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.

The 42-year-old Suzuki made just his second start this month with All-Star Marcell Ozuna getting a day off. He's been largely reduced to pinch hitting behind a set outfield, and singled in that role on Friday.

Suzuki also walked, scored a run and came up just short on his bid to beat out an infield hit. All of that in wilting, 93-degree heat for a player who'd been 3 for 11 in July.

Giancarlo Stanton's second double of the game drove in the go-ahead run in a two-run seventh against Jonathan Broxton (1-2).

Christian Yelich had two hits and three RBIs and Jeff Mathis bunted home a hit for Miami, which took two of three for just its second series win the last seven years in St. Louis.

The Cardinals' Matt Holliday batted cleanup for the first time this season and had three hits, including his 16th homer. But St. Louis struck out 15 times, including four by Randal Grichuk and three by Tommy Pham.

Kyle Barraclough (5-2) had three strikeouts in 1 2-3 perfect relief innings and A.J. Ramos earned his 29th save in 30 chances. The bullpen worked 3 2-3 hitless innings after finishing with two spotless frames in a 5-0 loss Saturday.

The Marlins have won five of six overall and are seven games above .500, matching their high water mark of the season.

Marlins starter Adam Conley matched his career high with nine strikeouts, giving up two earned runs in 5 1-3 innings.

Michael Wacha needed 101 pitches to get 12 outs for St. Louis and gave up three runs on seven hits.

UP NEXT

Marlins: Jose Fernandez (11-4, 2.52) works the opener of a four-game series at Philadelphia.

Cardinals: Mike Leake (6-7, 4.14) had a season-high 10 strikeouts his last time out at Milwaukee.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Marlins: 1B Justin Bour (ankle) could rejoin the team next weekend.

Cardinals: 1B-OF Brandon Moss (ankle) is making slow progress and is still in a walking boot.