Marlins win with rally in ninth inning

JUPITER, Fla. -- Ramon Castro hit a two-run double in the top of the ninth as Florida rallied to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2 Saturday.

The hit capped a three-run rally with two outs in the ninth against reliever Cal Eldred.

The win gave the Marlins a 2-1 record in the exhibition season, and the Cardinals have lost all four of their exhibition games.

"We are very fortunate," Marlin Manager Jack McKeon said. "We came up with a couple of good moves. We are happy to be winning. I just want to keep it going."

Behind 2-1 in the ninth, Ryan Christenson hit a two-out single and Chris Aguila tied the game with a triple. Eldred walked Larry Sutton before Castro's hit.

Scott Sanders was the winning pitcher after striking out three in the ninth.

The Cardinals received strong pitching from starter Jason Marquis, who threw only 30 pitches -- 20 for strikes -- in three scoreless innings. Relievers Jason Isringhausen and Steve Kline each also threw scoreless innings.

"I accomplished what I set out to do and that was keep the ball down and throw stikes, " said Marquis, who came to the Cardinals from the Braves in an off-season trade. He is scheduled to be one of St. Louis' five starters.

"I was nervous," Marquis admitted. "But I'm nervous whether its the first game of the spring or the last game of the season."

Dontrelle Willis, last year's National League rookie of the year, started for the Marlins and gave McKeon three strong innings, throwing five strikeouts and giving up a lone home run to Emil Brown.

At this time last year, Willis was just trying to make the Marlins club.

Willis caught two of the Cardinals best hitters, Albert Pujols and Scott Rolan, looking at called third strikes with men on base in the first inning.

Kline needed only 10 pitches to retire the Marlins in the eighth. He beat Florida's Juan Pierre to first on the final out of the inning when Pierre bunted trying for a base hit.

Bo Hart, hitting in the leadoff spot, had three hits for the Cardinals. Hart has five hits in 12 at bats so far this season.

Noteworthy

Right-hander Alan Benes will start today for the Cards against Montreal at Gold Coast Stadium (Brevard County). It will be Benes' first spring training appearance. He's trying to earn a spot on the team after suffering through shoulder problems the last few seasons.

Mark McGwire will return to St. Louis Saturday April 17 to "tip his hat" to the fans. The first 30,000 fans will receive a McGwire baseball.