Cards pitchers silence Marlins' bats

~ Florida managed just one hit through the first eight innings.

JUPITER, Fla. -- The defending Grapefruit League champion Florida Marlins are not only having a tough time winning, they're having a tough time getting hits.

Two days after being one-hit in a loss to Baltimore, the Marlins had just one hit through the first eight innings Sunday before scoring two runs in the ninth in a 12-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

"I couldn't believe we only had a one-hitter," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "We hit the ball hard, I thought. The quality at-bats are there."

Part of Florida's problem was Cardinals starter Anthony Reyes. The right-hander made a strong bid to break camp with a rotation spot by throwing two scoreless innings in his Grapefruit League debut.

Reyes had a high pitch count in the first inning, but escaped with no runs after Hanley Ramirez led off with a walk, stole second and advanced to third on Dan Uggla's roller to the mound, Florida's first out.

Reyes threw 18 pitches in the inning, 12 for strikes, focusing on a two-seam fastball he is trying to perfect this spring.

"I was keeping them low, in the zone. I think starting off this year, it's a little more effective than when I started off last year," said Reyes, who threw 19 strikes in 32 pitches.

"I was just trying to get back into game mode and trying to control everything. I think after that first inning, I calmed down a little bit."

St. Louis also got a strong performance from Brad Thompson, who tossed three perfect innings to bolster his rotation bid. Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen each went 2-for-3.

Marlins starter Scott Olsen allowed three walks and three runs in 2 innings

Right-hander Chris Volstad, the Marlins' top pick in the 2005 draft, allowed four runs, two earned, in 2 innings. Florida committed five errors, including two by All-Star third baseman Miguel Cabrera.