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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
MIAMI (AP) -- The game couldn't have been more predictable.
The Florida Marlins, despite another solid starting pitching
performance, struggled to score runs. And Will Clark continued to
carry the St. Louis Cardinals toward the playoffs.
|  | | Luis Castillo is forced at second on a ground ball hit by Cliff Floyd. St. Louis shortstop Edgar Renteria throws to first to complete the double play. |
Clark homered in the second inning and added an RBI double in
the ninth, giving the Cardinals a 4-2 victory over the Marlins on
Wednesday night.
"He's energized that team, there's no question about it,"
Marlins manager John Boles said of Clark, who is hitting .394 with
19 RBI in 26 games since being acquired from Baltimore.
The Cardinals improved to 16-8 with Clark starting at first
base, including 5-1 on this road trip. More importantly, St. Louis
won its sixth straight series and extended its lead in the NL
Central to 8½ games over the Cincinnati Reds, who lost to Atlanta.
"This was a big win for us," Clark said. "It was a good day.
The Reds lost, we have an 8½-game lead and now we have an off-day."
Jim Edmonds snapped an 0-for-21 streak with a single in the
sixth and added another base hit leading off the ninth with the
game tied at 2. Clark followed with a double to right-center,
scoring Edmonds on the hit-and-run play from first.
"We had the right guy at the plate," Cardinals manager Tony La
Russa said. "And we had good legs on Edmonds."
Clark moved to third on a sacrifice and scored on Ray Lankford's
single off Antonio Alfonseca (4-6).
"You've got to score more than two runs," Boles said. "That's
the one thing we've got to work out -- scoring runs. It's always
difficult to watch those close games, but especially when they have
the thunder they have. You're walking on eggshells the whole time
with the lineup they have."
Dave Veres pitched the ninth for his 24th save in 29 chances.
Matt Morris (2-3) pitched the eighth for the win.
The Marlins took a 1-0 lead in the first. Andy Fox singled,
moved to second on a walk to Cliff Floyd and scored on Preston
Wilson's fielder's choice. Fox scored from second as the Cardinals
tried to turn an inning-ending double play.
St. Louis went ahead 2-1 with back-to-back home runs to lead off
the second. Clark hit his eighth of the season on a 2-0 pitch from
Reid Cornelius. Craig Paquette followed two pitches later with his
10th.
Cornelius kept the Cardinals quiet after the homers. He retired
15 of the next 18 batters before getting pulled for a pinch hitter
in the sixth inning.
Cornelius allowed four hits in six innings en route to his
eighth no-decision.
"It's just one of those things you can't explain. We just
haven't been scoring runs here lately," Cornelius said.
Florida has scored just 30 runs in its last 11 games.
The Marlins tied the game in the sixth. Floyd led off with a
double and scored on Mark Smith's broken-bat single to right field.
Florida loaded the bases with two outs, but pinch-hitter Kevin
Millar struck out looking.
"I feel the strain as the manager and I'm not the one going out
there on that little hill," Boles said. "If we score runs, we're
in business. That's the last piece of the puzzle."
Game notes
Marlins OF Henry Rodriguez left the game in the fifth
inning after experiencing dizziness. ... Florida's Luis Castillo
got his major league-leading 48th infield hit with a bunt single in
the third. ... Wilson struck out twice, giving him 166 this season,
23 shy of Bobby Bonds' major league record set in 1970. ... St.
Louis recorded back-to-back homers for the 14th time this season
and first time since May 24 against the Marlins. ... Cornelius was
charged with his league-leading fourth and fifth balks.
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Baseball Scoreboard
St. Louis Clubhouse
Florida Clubhouse
RECAPS
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