Cards stumble in opener

MIAMI -- Shelby Miller was mad at himself over two bad pitches -- especially because they were against one of the top sluggers in the game.

Giancarlo Stanton made Miller and the St. Louis Cardinals pay in a 6-5 victory for the Miami Marlins on Monday night, hitting two home runs and driving in three runs.

"That was a terrible pitch [on the first home run]," Miller said. "It was right down the middle to a guy with a lot of power. Not a good pitch on my part. Both of them were terrible, right over the middle of the plate. Anybody's going to hit those out, especially him."

Jon Jay hit a two-run homer, Matt Holliday had four hits, and Miller (8-9) allowed five runs in five innings for the Cardinals, who have lost three of four.

"We had plenty of hits, they just had bigger ones," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said.

Besides the two home runs, Stanton also made a spectacular diving catch in right field in the fifth inning.

"He was definitely trying to take that game over not only with his bat, but with his glove," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said.

Stanton's 13th multihomer game established a franchise career record and he tied Hanley Ramirez for second place on the club's all-time home run list with 148. Stanton hit a two-run homer in the first and a solo shot in the third to give him 31 on the season and five in his last five games.

"Just feeling better and having better at-bats and pitch selection is a little better," Stanton said of his recent surge.

Marlins starter Tom Koehler (8-9) allowed three runs and eight hits in five innings.

Steve Cishek escaped the ninth to record his 30th save in 33 chances. With two outs, Cishek allowed an RBI triple by Kolten Wong and an RBI single by Holliday, allowing the Cardinals to pull within 6-5. Cishek struck out Matt Adams to end the game.

Stanton's diving catch to his left on the warning track took a hit away from Wong in the fifth inning.

"I was more trying to protect myself and slide on grass as opposed to dirt and make sure I secure it at the same time," Stanton said.

The catch prompted the home crowd to give him a standing ovation, with two homers already to his credit.

"That was really cool that they appreciate things like that," Stanton said.

Koehler and the Marlins also benefited from key defensive plays by Jordany Valdespin, Christian Yelich and Adeiny Hechavarria.

"I don't think I've had that many top-notch plays in a course of a season, that was unbelievable," Koehler said. "If you watch SportsCenter tonight, there's no reason why we shouldn't have all 10 (top plays)."

The Cardinals were 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position.

The Marlins led 3-0 after Stanton's homers, but the Cardinals tied it with three runs in the fourth.

Hechavarria and Yelich drove in runs in the bottom of the inning to put the Marlins up 5-3.

Trainer's room

Marlins hard-throwing right-hander Carter Capps, who has been out since May 25 with a right elbow sprain, could make his return to the team as early as September.

"He's feeling good and from what I've heard, everything is going great, he's feeling great," Redmond said.

Up next

Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright (14-6, 2.28) will take the mound Tuesday against Marlins right-hander Jarred Cosart (0-1, 6.75). Wainwright will be making his first start against the Marlins in four years and Cosart will be making his return to the mound after being scratched from his last start with a sore left oblique.

Cishek in rare company

Cishek became only the third pitcher in Marlins history to record back-to-back 30-save seasons, joining Juan Carlos Oviedo (2010-11) and Robb Nenn (1996-97).

Jay showing power

Jay has hit two home runs in his last three games after going homerless in his previous 93 games. The Miami native was able to hit his third homer of the season in front of a number of friends and family members in attendance.

"It's always fun to come back home, but I'm here trying to win some games," Jay said.