Giancarlo Stanton's HR not enough for Marlins to beat Cardinals

MIAMI (AP) -- Giancarlo Stanton's latest tape-measure homer had volume as well as distance.

"One of the loudest home runs I've heard in a long time," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said.

Alas for the Marlins, their bats were mostly quiet the rest of the night. Miami squandered an early lead and plenty of scoring chances Tuesday, losing to St. Louis 4-3.

Major league home run and RBI leader Stanton's two-run homer in the first inning was estimated at 484 feet. That matched his previous longest this year, and he now has 26 homers, including the longest two in the majors in 2015.

"It doesn't matter," Stanton said. "The game is nine innings."

The Marlins took a 3-0 lead in the second inning over the NL Central leaders but were shut out the rest of the way and went 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position.

"We had a few shots there and we weren't able to push them across," Miami manager Dan Jennings said. "When you play a team like the Cardinals, there's a reason they have the record that they have. When you get leadoff guys on, you have to get them over and get them in. Unfortunately we didn't do that."

Cardinals right-hander Carlos Martinez shook off a slow start and a fastball that hit him in the upper right arm to pitch seven innings.

Martinez (8-3) retired the final seven batters he faced, including three after being plunked by a 94-mph fastball while trying to bunt in the seventh. Martinez struck out nine and allowed eight hits.

"We got some hits off him," Stanton said, "but he did a good job keeping it going until the seventh."

With the score 3-all and two outs in the seventh, Mark Reynolds hit a full-count pitch off the right foot of pitcher Sam Dyson (3-3) for an infield single to put St. Louis ahead.

Earlier in the inning, Martinez was hit by Dyson, fell to the ground and was slow to rise.

"I didn't like that at all," Matheny said. "He seems to be OK. It will be interesting to see tonight how it tightens up. I imagine it will a little bit."

Martinez took his base and showed no ill effects when he returned to the mound, throwing one pitch 98 mph. He said he expects to make his next start as scheduled.

Jason Heyward hit his eighth homer for the Cardinals. Trevor Rosenthal pitched around a single in the ninth for his 22nd save in 23 chances.

Stanton's homer, which landed near the beer garden in left field, put Miami ahead 2-0. It was his 11th homer in June, breaking the club record for the month set by Hanley Ramirez in 2008.

"That was an absolute missile," said Matheny, "one of the furthest balls I've ever seen hit in my life."

Adeiny Hechavarria had an RBI single in the second for the Marlins, but they lost for the fifth time in the past six games.

Starter Jose Urena allowed three runs in five innings, his worst outing this month.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Marlins: RHP Jarred Cosart (vertigo) is expected to be activated Thursday, but it's unclear when he'll rejoin the rotation. LHP Justin Nicolino, who pitched seven shutout innings in his major league debut Saturday, will get another start, Jennings said. ... 1B Michael Morse (finger) is on a rehab assignment at Triple-A New Orleans and may come off the DL soon.

Umpires: Plate ump Adam Hamari was knocked down and shaken up when hit in the chest protector by a fastball in the eighth inning, but he worked the rest of the game.

UP NEXT

LHP Jaime Garcia (2-3, 1.76), who has pitched 14 consecutive scoreless innings, is scheduled to start Wednesday for the Cardinals against RHP Mat Latos (2-4, 5.37). Garcia will be facing the Marlins for the first time since 2011.