MIAMI (AP) – Javy Guerra cleaned up a ninth-inning mess created by struggling closer Kyle Barraclough, getting Yadier Molina to hit into a double play to end the Miami Marlins’ 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night.
After Wei-Yin Chen pitched 5 2/3 innings of one-hit ball, Miami led 2-0 going into the ninth and handed the game off to Barraclough.
Paul DeJong and Harrison Bader opened the inning with hard-hit singles, then Yairo Munoz walked. Pinch-hitter Kolten Wong struck out swinging, but Matt Carpenter drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 2-1 and end Barraclough’s night.
Guerra got Molina to bounce into a double play for his first save since Sept. 27, 2014 while with the Chicago White Sox.
Barraclough had blown his last three save chances, allowing 10 runs in 2 1/3 innings.
Starlin Castro had two hits, including his ninth home run for the Marlins, who returned home after a six-game winless road trip.
Former Miami All-Star Marcell Ozuna returned for his first game at Marlins Park after being traded to St. Louis in the offseason and went 3 for 4.
Luke Weaver (6-10) allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings for St. Louis.
Chen (4-8) struck out four and walked two.
Derek Dietrich doubled to begin the game for the Marlins and scored on a hit by Brian Anderson. Castro’s home run to left in the fourth gave Miami a 2-0 lead.
With one on and one out in the seventh, Munoz grinded out a 14-pitch at-bat, but Tayron Guerrero prevailed with a groundout. Pinch-hitter Greg Garcia struck out to end the inning.
Ozuna beat out an infield hit in the eighth, giving Jedd Gyorko an at-bat with runners on first and second with two outs. Drew Steckenrider was able to get out of the jam as Gyorko flew out to deep center.
