Cardinals’ Diaz sidelined after being hit on hand by pitch

That move backfired, however, as the next batter, Marcel Ozuna, hit a two-run double.

“‘O’ puts us up by four early and then we were able to add on, which is nice because they have a risky club that can put some runs on the board quick”, Marlins manager Don Mattingly said.

Aledmys Diaz remained in Florida on Sunday evening to visit with a hand specialist Monday morning and determine the severity of damage caused by a 95 miles per hour fastball. Tests run at the ballpark did not reveal any fracture, only a deep bruise. An impressive offensive performance that saw Miami pound seven extra-base hits, including a two-run home run by Marcell Ozuna, was offset by a hollow feeling in the wake of Rea’s injury exit. “Thank God it may not be too serious. But we don’t know anything yet”.

Diaz took his base, but was replaced after the inning.

Although an error wasn’t assessed on the play, another of the Cardinals’ defensive missteps this season cost them in the bottom of the ninth inning. The ball deflected off the glove of diving Cardinals center fielder Tommy Pham.

Cabrera hit his 22nd home run of the season with nobody on and one out in the fifth off Dallas Keuchel (6-11) and added his 23rd after reliever Scott Feldman hit Cameron Maybin with a pitch to open the seventh.

“Once I got to the second, third inning, it just kept getting tighter and tighter”, he said. Yelich, one of the hottest hitters in the majors over the past month, also had three hits, including two doubles.

The win gives Miami a one game lead on the Cardinals for the second wild card spot in the National League. You just get to a new team.

“We know he’s a very good shortstop”, Matheny said.

Martinez did get Martin Prado to ground into three double plays. “That’s the position he knows best”.

The veteran right-hander was in line to get the decision over a tough opponent in Carlos Martinez after holding the Cardinals to two runs (one earned) and four hits in six innings.

“I really didn’t spend time thinking about (the short rest)”, Garcia said. Cashner was back in the same location Sunday.

“Nothing changes for me”, he said.

Although the Marlins would go on to a 11-0 romp against the Cardinals, it was a deflating moment for the ballclub.

“Going into it, I felt good”. It causes injuries. It causes damage. “No excuse. I didn’t execute pitches the way I wanted to”.

They got to the Cardinals starter quickly, as they did the previous day for Rea, putting up a crooked number in the first inning for Cashner.

Later in the game Giancarlo Stanton doubled for the 17th time this year.

And Martinez said he wasn’t trying to hit Stanton.

But the tightness he felt in his elbow got worse as he continued to pitch. “That’s kind of the Cardinal way”.

CLEVELAND – Corey Kluber limited Oakland to five hits in seven innings, Mike Napoli hit a two-run homer and the Cleveland Indians completed a three-game sweep of the Athletics with an 8-0 win Sunday after boosting their postseason hopes by acquiring reliever Andrew Miller.

“It’s a little bit inflamed”, Diaz said. That tied the score.

The score was tied with two out in the ninth when Adeiny Hechavarria – who had made a costly throwing error earlier – singled off Matt Bowman (1-3). “It was a shame to let it go”.