St. Louis Cardinals Pummel Jacob Turner, Miami Marlins, 8-2

Well that was short-lived. The St. Louis Cardinals ended the Miami Marlins brief two game winning streak on Thursday afternoon. The Cardinals were able to seize control of the game early in the first inning and would never look back.

Turner’s Struggles

Jacob Turner had one of those starts yesterday that you just pretend never happened and move on. Luckily, for Turner, this was just his first start of the spring and he will have plenty of time to recover from this one. I do not think it could have gone any worse for Turner today. This was after the Marlins spotted Turner a 1-0 lead.

Normally Turner has decent control, but that seemed to leave him in this one. Turner started the game by walking Matt Carpenter and hitting Carlos Beltran back-t0-back. Turner then got his only out of the game, Matt Holiday to fly out to right. Turner then walked the next hitter and allowed an RBI single to Yadier Molina.

With the game deadlocked at one and the bases loaded, Turner still had a chance to get out of the inning without too much damage being done. However, Oscar Tavarez, the Cardinals top prospect, had other ideas. Taveras hit a towering fly ball to right, which turned out to be a grand slam. Turner allowed two more hits and one more run without retiring another hitter when Mike Redmond decided to make a pitching change.

Kevin Slowey came into pitch for Turner and pitched 2 and a third innings, allowing just one hit and striking out two hitters. Slowey is one of the many pitchers vying for the Marlins fifth rotation spot. He made a great impression with the Marlins today.

Feb 28, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; Miami Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton (27) hits a double against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Marlins 8-2. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

Stanton’s Big Day

Somewhat foreshadowing what is to be expected this season, the Marlins team struggled, but Giancarlo Stanton still proved to be phenomenal.

Stanton went 3-for-3 in on the afternoon with a walk. He hit a tripled in the first and came around to score on a Rob Brantly base hit. Stanton would proceed to double and single in his next two at-bats and came to hit in the eight inning just a home run shy of hitting for the first cycle in Marlins (spring and regular season) history. Instead of a home run, Stanton took a walk.

He did however end the day with reaching base each time. Stanton will likely play later today and then take Saturday off before departing to play from Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.

Casey Kotchman picked up two hits today in his quest to make the Marlins team out of spring training. Kotchman is hitting .600 early on in the spring.

Up Next: The Miami Marlins will face-off with a familiar foe in former Phillie Vance Worley and the Minnesota Twins. Taking the mound for the Marlins will be Henderson Alvarez, who will be making his last Marlins start before he departs to play for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. Giancarlo Stanton will have four at-bats in this one while severing as the Marlins DH, according to manager Mike Redmond.