Ankiel makes return for Cards in loss to Marlins

JUPITER, Fla. -- Juan Encarnacion and Brian Banks each homered and drove in two runs as the Florida Marlins beat the Cardinals 7-3 Saturday.

Rick Ankiel pitched one inning for St. Louis, throwing 16 pitches but only five for strikes. Ankiel, who missed last season with an elbow injury and struggled in the past with wildness, walked two and struck out one.

"It was just fun to be back out there, feel like I was part of the team again," Ankiel said. "I was a little nervous at the start. It's been a while. I got most of my pitches around the strike zone so I'm happy about that."

In his first start of the spring, Marlins' right-hander Josh Beckett struggled in two innings of work, giving up five hits and two runs. The Cardinals scored twice off Beckett in the first inning on a two-RBI double by Albert Pujols.

Juan Alvarez (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings of relief and pick up the win as Florida's relievers retired 17 straight Cardinals' batters during one stretch.

After tying the game in the fourth, the Marlins scored three runs in the fifth to take the lead for good.

Banks broke the tie with a bases-loaded single, while Jason Wood added an RBI sacrifice fly. Encarnacion, who homered to tie the game an inning before, drove in another run with a single off first base.

Chad Allen, who homered Friday against the Orioles, had an RBI single in the sixth inning to give the Marlins a 6-2 lead.

In his first start of the spring, Marlins' right-hander Josh Beckett struggled in two innings of work, giving up five hits and two runs. The Cardinals scored twice off Beckett in the first inning on a two-RBI double by Albert Pujols.

Josh Pearce (0-1) give up five runs on eight hits in two innings of relief.

Noteworthy

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said he was "pleased" Ankiel survived the one-inning stint.

The teams play again today, with right-hander Woody Williams starting for St. Louis against Florida left-hander Mark Redman.