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While the Midwest heat beat down on Busch Stadium, the bats did not follow suit as the Marlins drop their second to last game before the All-Star festivities.
Source: FanGraphs
Attendance: 41,312
Hero of the Game: Justin Ruggiano (+.021): 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
Goat of the Game: Donovan Solano (-.018): 0-for-4
Play of the Game: Ruggiano's HR in the 2nd
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It just wasn't the Marlins day.
The weather was unbearable to play in. Yet, they did break a franchise record of playing the hottest game in the team's history. First pitch temperature: 106 degrees.
Even though the weather was scorching, the Marlins' offense was quiet and cold in a 3-2 loss.
Justin Ruggiano put the only dent to Kyle Lohse's outing in the second inning thanks to a two-run home run that sailed over the left center bullpen.
They had the lead for a short while until the Cardinals came out with their bats in the fourth inning to put up a three spot.
Skip Schumacher had an RBI single followed by a Tony Cruz triple that brought in the three runs. Schumacher and Cruz each hit beside each other seventh and eighth in the lineup on Saturday, respectively.
The Cardinals had a similar situation in the second inning—Carlos Zambrano got out of that jam unscathed.
Speaking of Big Z, his line Saturday was five innings, seven hits, three runs (all earned), two walks and four strikeouts.
Wade LeBlanc came in for the other three innings and allowed one hit while walking four Cardinals.
The Fish and Birds will close the first half of the season Sunday afternoon at 2:15.