Marlins beat Cardinals, snap four-game slide

MELBOURNE, Fla. -- Derrek Lee hit a three-run homer and A.J. Burnett dominated with his new delivery as the Florida Marlins snapped a four-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Alex Gonzalez went 3-for-4 and leadoff batter and Luis Castillo went 2-for-3.

"Hopefully we can build off this and take it right into the season," Lee said.

Last Monday, Burnett was goofing around while playing catch with rookie pitcher Josh Beckett when he suddenly mimicked Kevin Brown's delivery by swiveling his hip and kicking his knee.

Triple-A manager Dean Treanor was watching, and told pitching coach Brad Arnsberg, who told Burnett to try it in action. Burnett did so Sunday for the second time and got great results. He gave up one run, four hits and walked two in five innings. He struck out four and hit 98 mph on the radar gun.

"One of my goals this year is to not walk so many people and the new delivery is key to that," said Burnett, who walked 83 batters in 173.1 innings last year.

The Marlins were encouraged by the return of center fielder Preston Wilson, who went 1-for-2 with a run scored after missing four days with the flu. Wilson's weight dropped to 206 pounds from 215 during his illness.

William Ortega had two hits apiece for the Cardinals. Right-hander Woody Williams took the loss after giving up five earned runs in four innings.