Just off the DL, Cardinals’ Lynn dominates Marlins
Kozma perks up with three singles
MIAMI — Former Ole Miss standout Lance Lynn came off the disabled list to pitch six shutout innings in his first outing since June 7, and the St. Louis Cardinals completed a three-game sweep Thursday by beating the Miami Marlins 5-1.
Lynn (5-4), who had been sidelined with a strained forearm, allowed only two hits and lowered his ERA to 2.84.
“That was a good one to come back to,” he said.
“He was awesome,” teammate Pete Kozma said. “He was doing what he did before he went on the DL.”
Backup infielder Kozma, who came in hitless in his past 21 atbats, singled three times, scored twice and drove in a run for his second RBI this year. His average rose to from .093 to .140.
“A good night all the way around for Pete,” manager Mike Matheny said. “When it gets to the point where you’re hitting .100, you really start pressing a little bit. I say that from experience.”
The sweep was the first for the Cardinals in Miami since Aug. 4-7, 2011. St. Louis (48-24) moved a season-high 24 games above .500; Miami (30-44) fell a seasonworst 14 games under .500.
Miami’s Adeiny Hechavarria hit his fourth homer, off the foul pole with two outs in the ninth, to avert a shutout. Four St. Louis relievers completed a four-hitter.
The Marlins have lost seven of their past eight games.
Dan Haren (6-5) allowed four runs in six-plus innings. He retired the first seven batters before his pitch brushed Kozma, who scored on a two-out double by Kolten Wong.
The Cardinals added three runs in the seventh. They reached on back-to-back bunt singles, Mike Dunn walked in a run, and Kozma scored on Mark Reynolds’ pop-up to Dee Gordon, who caught the ball in short right field with his back to the plate.
The Marlins’ leadoff batter in the third inning reached second base, but Lynn escaped. He walked consecutive batters with two outs in the sixth before striking out Marcell Ozuna.
Miami went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position and was 1 for 17 in the series in those situations.