The Miami Marlins beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-4 on Thursday to complete a sweep of six games against the defending National League Champions.
Roger Dean Stadium is the home of both teams with alternating home games on the schedule. Whether the Marlins donned their white or black pants didn't matter this spring though, as they came away victorious in all six games. While winning games in Spring Training isn't that meaningful, it is never a bad thing to have success against a talented team such as St. Louis.
Brad Hand made the start before finding out after the game that he would not be in the starting rotation to begin the year. Hand is still expected to make the team as a reliever however. The left-hander went four innings in which he allowed two hits, one walk, no runs and struck out two according to the official box score. Hand wraps up the spring with a 2-1 record to go along with a 2.70 E.R.A.
After Hand, four pitchers from minor league camp took over with the win going to Anthony DeSclafani. That's a deceiving win however as the prospect did not have a good appearance. Four runs were charged to DeSclafani in his two innings of work. The 23 year old will open the season in the minor leagues but could see a big league promotion at some point in 2014. Chris Hatcher also pitched in this one hours after reassigned to the minor league side. The converted catcher turned in another shutout inning to give him ten on the spring.
The bats for the Marlins didn't do much until a five run eighth inning propelled the team to a win. In that inning, Derek Dietrich picked up a two run single before Marcell Ozuna knocked home a run of his own with a hit. Both Dietrich and Ozuna are expected to be on the Opening Night roster. Ed Lucas went 1-3 with a run scored after he was awarded a roster spot on the team over Donovan Solano. Unfortunately for Lucas and the Marlins however, he was hit by a pitch late in the game and x-rays showed a non-displaced fracture of his left hand per MLB.com. Solano will now be recalled to take that roster spot.
The Marlins will take on the New York Yankees on Friday with Jacob Turner set to make the start. This will be the third time the Marlins and Yankees go against each other this spring after a series in Panama.
