Marquis looks sharp on mound, at plate

~ The pitcher hit a home run in a 7-0 win over the Nationals.

JUPITER, Fla. -- Jason Marquis warmed up for the regular season, on the mound and at the plate.

The best hitter by far among the St. Louis Cardinals' pitchers, Marquis connected off Pedro Astacio for hit his first home run of the spring in a 7-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Monday.

Marquis allowed three hits in six scoreless innings, struck out six and walked two, fanning five of his last six batters. He's got one exhibition start remaining to get ready for the regular season.

Marquis is 2-for-5 at the plate this spring training with a double. His two-run homer capped a four-run third against Astacio.

Last year Marquis batted .310 with a homer and 10 RBIs, and had eight doubles and a triple. He has a career average of .237.

"I've been working on it all spring, and it feels good," Marquis said. "I take pride in whatever I do."

Four other pitchers contributed to a combined five-hitter for the Cardinals. Jason Isringhausen, who worked a scoreless ninth, has not allowed a run in eight innings.

It was the latest effort in a succession of strong games by the staff, which has a 2.54 ERA in the last 20 games.

Jim Edmonds was 2-for-2, putting his average at .500 in 36 at-bats.