NewsJohnson impressive in Marlins' loss
Staff ace allows one hit to Cardinals; Murphy hits big tripleBy Joe Frisaro / MLB.com
03/11/10 3:57 PM ET
CARDINALS 5, MARLINS 3at Jupiter, Fla.
Thursday, March 11
Marlins at the plate: Ronny Paulino had a second-inning double, and Jorge Cantu added a single to left in the fourth inning. Those were the only hits allowed by Kyle Lohse over four innings. The Marlins threatened in the sixth inning, putting two on with no outs, but they failed to score. Emilio Bonifacio and Scott Cousins each walked. The Marlins got on the board in the seventh inning on Donnie Murphy's RBI triple. Jorge Jimenez, who walked, scored. And in the eighth inning, Cousins connected on a solo home run.
Cardinals at the plate: Allen Craig ripped a double to right center in the second inning. It was the lone baserunner against Josh Johnson. With one out in the fourth inning, Felipe Lopez tripled to right, but he was stranded. The Cardinals did all their damage in the ninth, with Joe Mather tying the game with an RBI double. Marlins on the mound: Josh Johnson came out simmering hot. The Marlins ace struck out the side in order on 11 pitches, throwing nine strikes. His fastball in the inning topped at 94 mph, and he mixed in an 86-mph slider. Clay Hensley followed up Johnson with three scoreless innings, allowing one hit. He worked out of a jam in the fourth inning, with one out and a runner on third. Cardinals on the mound: Lohse breezed through the first inning, inducing two ground-ball outs. The veteran right-hander tossed four scoreless innings, giving up two hits. In 6 2/3 innings this spring -- all against the Marlins -- Lohse has given up one run on eight hits. Of his 44 pitches, 33 were strikes. Jaime Garcia worked out of a sixth-inning jam after walking two to open the frame. The left-hander struck out Hanley Ramirez and Jorge Cantu bounced into a double play. Garcia's third walk, in the seventh inning, came back to haunt him as a run came around to score on Murphy's triple. Worth noting: Albert Pujols has missed four straight games with a stiff back, and five consecutive games total. He is still day-to-day. ... In the second inning, second baseman Ruben Gotay made a diving back-handed stop on a ball up the middle, robbing Logan Morrison of a hit. ... Ramirez, batting .222 in the spring, tried to change his luck at the plate on Thursday by sporting the high-socks look. Ramirez usually plays with his pant legs down to his cleats. Grapefruit League records: Marlins, 5-4; Cardinals, 3-5 Up next: The Marlins travel to the west coast of Florida this weekend for two games. On Friday, they will be in Sarasota, taking on the Orioles at 1:05 p.m. ET. Andrew Miller will make his second appearance, and first start of the Spring. Baltimore counters with Jeremy Guthrie.Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
