Cardinals outslug Marlins, jump them in standings

MIAMI — On a day in which they finalized a seven-player trade designed to boost their chances at ending a 12-year playoff drought, the Marlins watched the Cardinals elbow past them in the National League Wild Card race by battering starter Jose Urena. Buoyed by a six-run fifth that chased Urena from the game, the Cardinals captured their ninth win in 12 games on Friday with an 11-6 victory at Marlins Park.

The win positions the Cardinals one game ahead of the Marlins for the second NL Wild Card spot. The Dodgers entered the day with a two-game lead over both clubs for the first Wild Card berth.

The Cardinals, who lead the NL in home runs, hit another two to back starter Mike Leake. Two-run blasts by Jeremy Hazelbaker and Tommy Pham highlighted what was a huge night by the bottom half of the Cardinals’ order. Just ahead of Hazelbaker, five-hole hitter Yadier Molina tallied three hits. Behind Pham, Wong had a three-hit night and finishing a homer shy of the cycle.

Urena, making his third start of the season, gave up a career-high eight runs while struggling with his command. He walked four, hit another two batters and was charged with five of the six runs the Cardinals scored during a fifth inning in which 11 batters came to the plate. The six runs matched a season high for the Cardinals in an inning.

That 9-1 lead was hardly secure, however, as the Marlins answered with five runs off Leake in the bottom half of the fifth. A three-run homer by Martin Prado capped the …

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