MIAMI (AP) — Javy Guerra cleaned up a ninth-inning mess created by struggling closer Kyle Barraclough, getting Yadier Molina to hit into a double play to end the Miami Marlins’ 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night.

After Wei-Yin Chen pitched 5 2/3 innings of one-hit ball, Miami led 2-0 going into the ninth and handed the game off to Barraclough.

Paul DeJong and Harrison Bader opened the inning with hard-hit singles, then Yairo Munoz walked. Pinch-hitter Kolten Wong struck out swinging, but Matt Carpenter drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 2-1 and end Barraclough’s night.

Guerra got Molina to bounce into a double play for his first save since Sept. 27, 2014 while with the Chicago White Sox.

Barraclough had blown his last three save chances, allowing 10 runs in 2 1/3 innings.

Starlin Castro had two hits, including his ninth home run for the Marlins, who returned home after a six-game winless road trip.

Former Miami All-Star Marcell Ozuna returned for his first game at Marlins Park after being traded to St. Louis in the offseason and went 3 for 4.

Luke Weaver (6-10) allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings for St. Louis.

Chen (4-8) struck out four and walked two.

Derek Dietrich doubled to begin the game for the Marlins and scored on a hit by Brian Anderson. Castro’s home run to left in the fourth gave Miami a 2-0 lead.

With one on and one out in the seventh, Munoz grinded out a 14-pitch at-bat, but Tayron Guerrero prevailed with a groundout. Pinch-hitter Greg Garcia struck out to end the inning.

Ozuna beat out an infield hit in the eighth, giving Jedd Gyorko an at-bat with runners on first and second with two outs. Drew Steckenrider was able to get out of the jam as Gyorko flew out to deep center.

OZUNA TRIBUTE

Ozuna was given a video tribute during the game, and he tipped his cap to acknowledge the appreciation.

Before the game, Ozuna said it was “emotional” to be back.

“I’ve seen everyone,” Ozuna said. “They say they miss me and I miss them, too, but it’s a business.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: OF Tyler O’Neill (groin) was placed on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to Aug. 4. … RHP Adam Wainwright (elbow) is planning on throwing a bullpen session either Tuesday or Wednesday.

Marlins: RHP Sandy Alcantara (armpit) was reinstated from the 10-day disabled list and optioned to Triple-A New Orleans.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Miles Mikolas (11-3, 2.75 ERA) is scheduled to start the second game of the series Tuesday night. Mikolas has allowed three runs or fewer in eight consecutive starts.

Marlins: RHP Pablo Lopez (2-2, 4.67) allowed one run in six innings his last start, a no-decision at Philadelphia.

— Associated Press —

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Matt Carpenter homered in two straight games entering Sunday. By contrast, Jack Flaherty had allowed at least one home run in each of his previous three starts.

Carpenter kept his streak going while Flaherty brought his to an end to lift the St. Louis Cardinals to a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Flaherty (5-6) allowed three hits with seven strikeouts and one walk in six innings. It marked the first time he completed six innings since July 3, when he surrendered four runs in six against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Carpenter hit a solo home run in the fifth inning — his career-high 29th of the season, tying him with Colorado’s Nolan Arenado for the NL lead — and Jedd Gyorko singled to drive in a run later that inning to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead.

“(Leading the National League in home runs) is definitely not something I’ve ever really thought about,” Carpenter said. “It’s just a crazy stretch. There’s not much thought behind it other than I’m just trying to hit the ball hard. I’m really not trying to hit home runs. It just happens.”

St. Louis took the final two games of the three-game series to move past Pittsburgh into third place alone in the NL Central.

“Just good baseball,” interim Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said. “It started on the mound. Jack was really, really tough through six innings. Offense competed well. … Some tough at bats, good at bats, and good pitching all the way through.”

Bud Norris retired the side in order with two strikeouts in the ninth for his 21st save.

Flaherty recovered after giving up four runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 6-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies in his last start.

He got out of trouble twice on Sunday, first when the Pirates had runners on second and third with one out. Corey Dickerson struck out and Starling Marte grounded out to end the third inning. With runners on first and third two innings later, Flaherty forced Jordan Luplow into an inning-ending double play.

“That was more where I kind of wanted to be at,” Flaherty said. “It was nice to make adjustments from the last time out, the last few times out, just to try to get ahead. Once it was get ahead, it was stay ahead.”

Carpenter’s home run to right with one out in the fifth ended Trevor Williams’ streak of 21 1/2 innings without allowing a run. That stretched back to July 6, when Williams (9-8) gave up three runs in the third inning of a 17-5 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

“At that point of the game, you are upset they are up 1-0. That’s what I was worried about,” Williams said. “Knowing how good Flaherty was throwing and how well he was executing his pitches, it was tough. It’s unfortunate that that one blink cost the game today, but that’s kind of how baseball is right now.”

After the homer, Williams surrendered consecutive singles to Yadier Molina and Jose Martinez before Gyorko scored Molina with a single to left. Williams allowed those two runs on nine hits with three strikeouts in five innings.

Adam Frazier hit a home run off reliever Chasen Shreve to make it 2-1 in the seventh.

“Now we go on the road and it’s (against) good teams,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “I just love the fact that we are in the hunt. Time to go. We would have loved to won more games here. We did not. Now, it’s time to go put a better package together on the road.”

ROSTER MOVES

Cardinals: RHP Tyson Ross was claimed off waivers from the San Diego Padres and will join St. Louis in Miami. He was 6-9 with a 4.45 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 22 starts for the Padres this season.

Pirates: RHP Casey Sadler was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis. RHP Alex McRae, who allowed three runs on five hits in 3 1/3 innings of relief Saturday, was optioned to Indianapolis.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Pirates: Dickerson started in left field for the first time since missing eight games with left hamstring discomfort. He hit leadoff and was 0 for 3 with one walk. … INF David Freese did not play because of a right forearm contusion suffered Friday.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Luke Weaver (6-9, 4.75) will attempt to keep his string of impressive performances going when he faces the Miami Marlins on Monday. He has surrendered three runs or fewer in five straight starts since giving up eight in an 11-4 loss to the Atlanta Braves on June 30.

Pirates: RHP Joe Musgrove (4-5, 3.63) will look for a third straight quality start when he takes the mound against the Rockies on Monday. In his last two starts, Musgrove has allowed three combined runs on 10 hits in 14 innings.

— Associated Press —

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Kolten Wong didn’t miss a beat as he came off the disabled list. In fact, he had one of his best games of the season.

The second baseman was activated before the game and had three hits to help lead the St. Louis Cardinals to an 8-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night. Jeff Gyokro drove in three runs and Yadier Molina also had three hits.

Wong had been out since July 22 with left knee inflammation and brought a .216 batting average into the game.

“I thought I’d be a little rusty, but I felt pretty good,” Wong said. “You want to come back and help the team get a win so it’s a good feeling. It was a really good win for us as a team, just not me individually.”

Gyorko hit a pair of doubles, including a tiebreaking one in the fifth inning.

Matt Carpenter doubled and tied a career high with his NL-leading 28th home run, a solo shot in the ninth off Dovydas Neverauskas. Jose Martinez doubled twice, and Harrison Bader also had two of the Cardinals’ 14 hits.

“Relentless is the word that comes to mind,” St. Louis interim manager Mike Shildt said. “Our guys were relentless and had a lot of quality at-bats.”

Dakota Hudson (2-0) pitched three perfect innings in relief of fellow rookie Austin Gomber, who gave up four runs in four innings.

“They had the momentum then we had the momentum then they had the momentum and Dakota swung the momentum back to our side,” Shildt said. “He pitched three lights-out innings.”

“I’m just trying to simplify things,” said Hudson, who has not allowed a run in his first four major league games and six innings. “Just come in and get people out then hand the ball off to the next guy.”

Ivan Nova (6-7) was also touched for four runs in four innings. The Pirates had won his previous four starts.

“They had a lot of good at-bats, (Molina) especially, threw a lot of pitches to him and everything I had, he fouled it off,” Nova said.

Pittsburgh’s David Freese homered to open the scoring in the second inning. The Pirates lost for just the second time in their last 12 games inside the NL Central.

St. Louis moved ahead for good by scoring twice off Alex McRae (0-1) in the fifth inning to break a 4-4 tie. Jose Martinez and Gyorko led off with back-to-back doubles and Gyorko scored on Bader’s groundout.

McRae allowed three runs in 3 1/3 innings.

The Cardinals moved ahead 3-1 with three runs in the third as Martinez hit an RBI double and Gyorko followed with a two-run double. Bader doubled and scored on Gomber’s grounder in the fourth to make it 4-1.

The Pirates tied it with three in the fourth. Jordy Mercer singled in a run and Adam Frazier hit a two-run double.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: RF Tyler O’Neill (groin discomfort) was scratched just before game time and replaced by Martinez. . OF Dexter Fowler (broken left foot) was placed on the 10-day disabled list. He was examined by team doctors in St. Louis on Saturday and will wear a walking boot for one month then be reevaluated. Fowler was removed in the eighth inning of Friday night’s 7-6 loss to the Pirates after fouling a ball off the foot.

Pirates: OF Corey Dickerson was activated from the 10-day DL and flied out as a pinch-hitter. INF/OF Christopher Bostick was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis. . With 1B Josh Bell (strained left oblique) on the DL, C Francisco Cervelli made his first start at first base since 2016 and went 2-for-3 with a walk while handling 10 total chances flawlessly.

VAN SLYKE FETED

Retired five-time Gold Glove-winning outfielder Andy Van Slyke threw out the ceremonial first pitch on his bobblehead night. Van Slyke played for both the Cardinals (1983-86) and Pirates (1987-94).

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Jack Flaherty (4-6, 3.49 ERA) starts Sunday and the rookie is 1-4 with a 4.03 ERA in his last nine starts. St. Louis will try to win three series in a row for the first time this season.

Pirates: RHP Trevor Williams (9-7, 3.89 ERA) has pitched a combined 17 scoreless innings while winning his last three starts.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jose Martinez is making the most of his limited opportunities.

Martinez sliced an opposite-field pinch-hit single to the right-center field gap off Wade Davis with one out in the ninth inning, driving in the tying and go-ahead runs and lifting the St. Louis Cardinals over the Colorado Rockies 3-2 on Thursday.

“Trying to put the ball in play, trying just to get one run, that’s the most important thing,” Martinez said.

Greg Garcia singled with one out against Davis (1-4) and took third on a single by rookie Harrison Bader.

Bader stole second, and Martinez singled on a high fastball, giving the Cardinals their ninth walk-off win this season.

It was the first career walk-off RBI for Martinez, whose playing time has decreased since Mike Shildt became the interim manager on July 14.

“It’s a great teammate. That’s probably one of the best compliments I can give Jose,” Shildt said. “He’s still getting opportunities. He’s not getting quite as many, but he’s determined to make the most of them and showed up ready to take a really quality at-bat with a nice plan.”

Davis has a career-high five blown saves in 36 chances.

“I left it over the plate,” he said. “A couple of line drive hits there. Obviously, the stolen base didn’t help either.”

Colorado, which began the day one game back for the NL’s second wild card, lost three of four at the Cardinals. The Rockies had been seeking to tie the franchise record of nine straight series without a series loss but instead lost a series for the first time since dropping two of three at San Francisco from June 26-28.

“We’re in every game now, which is good, and we’ve won most of them,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “We’ve got to continue to pitch well. If we do that we’ll be fine.”

Chasen Shreve (3-2), acquired from the New York Yankees on Saturday, pitched a perfect ninth in his second appearance for the Cardinals.

“This is a focused group that’s really dedicated to playing good baseball and to moving this thing forward and to win games and to put us in position even further than where we are now,” Shildt said. “This team wants to play in the playoffs.”

St. Louis starter Miles Mikolas allowed two runs — one earned — and seven hits in seven innings. Rockies starter Antonio Senzatela gave up one run and five hits in six innings.

After the Cardinals loaded the bases in the sixth, Senzatela struck out Bader on a curveball in the dirt with an 0-2 count.

Tyler O’Neill put St. Louis ahead with a sacrifice fly in the third. Gerardo Parra had a tying single in the fourth, and Colorado went ahead when Ian Desmond hit a bouncer to the third-base side, and Mikolas made an off-balance throw that hit the tarp in foul territory in right field. Desmond was credited with a single, and Nolan Arenado came home from third on the error.

MAKING A SPLASH

O’Neill made a running catch against the wall right-field wall in the first inning to rob Arenado of an extra-base hit and a diving catch of a liner off of Trevor Story’s bat in the fourth.

“If I can help on the defensive side of the ball that’s what I’m going to do,” O’Neill said. “I was just able to make a couple of plays out there to help the boys get the game going.”

TRAINING ROOM

Rockies: 2B DJ LeMahieu (left oblique strain) was reinstated from the 10-day DL and 2B Garrett Hampson was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque.

Cardinals: OF Marcell Ozuna left in the fifth inning because of discomfort in one of his left toes. 2B Kolten Wong (left knee inflammation) began an injury rehabilitation assignment at Class A Peoria and is expected to join the team this weekend in Pittsburgh.

UP NEXT

Rockies: RHP German Marquez (9-8, 4.82 ERA) starts Friday’s opener of a three-game series at Milwaukee. He is 4-0 with a 3.03 ERA in his last five starts.

Cardinals: RHP John Gant (3-4, 3.49 ERA) starts a three-game series on Friday at Pittsburgh, where RHP Chris Archer (3-5, 4.31 ERA) is to make his Pirates debut after his acquisition from Tampa Bay. Gant is coming off his shortest outing of the season, lasting 4 1/3 innings in a 5-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Sunday night.

— Associated Press —