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JUPITER, Fla. (AP) -- Anibal Sanchez put to rest any questions about the Miami Marlins' rotation.
Sanchez allowed a run in five innings,
including Carlos Beltran's second homer, and the Miami Marlins beat the
St. Louis Cardinals 3-1 Thursday.
Sanchez had been limited to three starts this spring because of a sore shoulder. He gave up two hits and a walk.
Matt Holliday walked and David Freese singled after Beltran's homer and Sanchez pitched out of the jam.
"I feel great," Sanchez said. "I feel ready for long games."
Cardinals starter Lance Lynn matched
Sanchez, allowing one run on five hits in five innings. Lynn, who is
taking the place of the injured Chris Carpenter in the Cardinals
rotation, will start the Cardinals' fourth game, April 8 in Milwaukee.
"If he gives us outings like that we're
going to be very happy," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "He came
in with the mindset of being a late reliever and to make the transition
isn't always the easiest thing. He's made a good transition."
Daniel Pertusati, a minor leaguer who has never played higher than Class A, hit a tying homer off Lynn in the fifth.
The Marlins were not sure what to
expect from Sanchez after he developed soreness in his throwing shoulder
early in camp and missed a couple of starts. But Sanchez has recovered
nicely and after throwing 71 pitches Thursday, he is in line to be the
fifth starter and will make his season debut April 9 in Philadelphia. He
will pitch in a minor league game next week.
"I thought he threw the ball very good," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "Outstanding job."
Although the Marlins have scored a major league low 67 runs during the spring, Guillen is pleased because of the pitching.
"The one thing I am very happy with is the way we're pitching," Guillen said. "We're going to hit."
Cardinals reliever Kyle McClellan gave
up the go-ahead run in the sixth. Chris Coghlan led off with a single
and scored on a single by Hanley Ramirez and throwing error by
outfielder Erik Komatsu. McClellan also walked two in the inning.
Brett Hayes drove in the Marlins final run with an eighth inning single. Hayes was 2 for 4.
Beltran, who was signed during the offseason to play right field, went 2 for 4 and is hitting .356.
"He's just so effortless in everything he does," Matheny said. "I think he's hitting his stride at just the right time."
NOTES:
The Marlins released outfielder Aaron Rowand. The 34-year-old Rowand
said he will listen if another team calls but is content if his 10-year
career is over. He will earn $12 million this season, which is being
paid by the Giants. . Marlins outfielders Giancarlo Stanton (knee) and
Logan Morrison (knee) and utility player Greg Dobbs (knee) all played
the field in a minor league game. All three expect to be ready for
opening day. . The Cardinals purchased the contract of right-handed
reliever Scott Linebrink, adding him to the 40-man roster.
