Church homers to lead Cardinals past Marlins 5-3

Nathan Church hit a two-run homer and Alec Burleson had two RBIs to back a strong start by Dustin May and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Miami Marlins 5-3 on Tuesday night.

Burleson drove in the Cardinals’ first two runs off Chris Paddack (0-4) with a first-inning single and a fielder’s choice grounder in the third. Church hit his second homer following Masyn Winn’s leadoff single in the fourth to put St. Louis up 4-1.

Burleson doubled in the fifth and scored on a two-out single by Nolan Gorman for the Cardinals’ final run.

Winn, who went 2 for 4 and scored a run for the Cardinals, has multiple hits in three straight games during an eight-game hitting streak.

JJ Wetherholt led off the game with a double and scored two runs. Jordan Walker went 0 for 4 to end a 15-game hitting streak.

Cardinals RHP Kyle Leahy (2-2, 5.21) starts Wednesday’s rubber game opposite Marlins RHP Janson Junk (0-2, 4.50).



(AP Photo Rebecca Blackwell)