By MATT PIKE
Bryan Torres hit a two-run home run to back a strong start from Kyle Leahy, giving the St. Louis Cardinals the only runs they needed to cool off the Miami Marlins with a 2-1 victory at Busch Stadium.
The win for the Cardinals snapped a four game losing skid. In the second inning, Masyn Winn led off with a single against Tyler Phillips and Torres followed with his third home run of the season for a 2-0 lead. Leahy, who improved to 6-4 earning the win, didn’t allow a hit until Owen Caissie and Graham Paulie had back-to-back doubles to begin the fifth inning, cutting the St. Louis lead to one.
Leahy allowed one run on two hits with three walks in five innings. JoJo Romero got four outs and Ryne Stanek induced an inning-ending double play in the seventh inning, George Soriano struck out two in a perfect eighth and Riley O'Brien retired the side in order in the ninth for his 20th save in 24 opportunities.
The Cardinals scored just three runs in the three-game series but avoided being swept by the Marlins at home for the first time in 30 years. At the plate, JJ Wetherholt was 2-for-4 with a stolen base. Torres was 1-for-3 with two RBI's on the home run.
St. Louis has the day off Monday before traveling to face the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday. Matthew Liberatore (3-5, 5.56 ERA, 70K's) is set to start for the Cardinals, looking to end June on a positive note as he's currently 0-2 with a 10.34 ERA in four June starts, facing Martín Pérez (6-4, 3.00 ERA, 60K's) for the Braves. First pitch on Tuesday is at 6:15pm, coverage beginning at 6:05 on KY 102 (102.5 FM).
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