Monday’s Game Report: Cardinals 7, Marlins 1
By Rob Rains
Andre Pallante needed a good start. The Cardinals needed a good start. Both got what they needed on Monday night.
After allowing a combined 18 runs over 15 2/3 innings in his last three starts, Pallante shut out the Marlins for seven innings and he finally got some run support in winning the series opener at Busch Stadium.
Pallante allowed just one hit, a leadoff single in the sixth inning, and retired 21 of the 23 hitters he faced in winning his first game since June 20 and snapping his four-game losing streak.
Coming into the game, the Cardinals’ starters in July had a combined ERA of 7.27, the worst in the major leagues.
In Pallante’s last five starts, the Cardinals had scored a combined five runs in those games.
Here is how Monday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: Masyn Winn had the biggest hit of the game, a double in the seventh that drove in three runs in the five-run inning that blew open a 2-0 game … Winn also doubled in the second, two of the Cardinals’ six doubles in the game … Alec Burleson homered for the second game in a row, tying Willson Contreras for the team lead with 14 on the season … Ivan Herrera made his first career start in left field while going 0-of-3, reaching on a walk in the seventh … Thomas Saggese started at third base in place of Nolan Arenado and had a double and walked twice.
On the mound: Pallante retired the first 10 hitters he faced before walking Jesse Sanchez with one out in the fourth … Graham Pauley got the only hit off Pallante, a single, leading off the sixth before Pallante retired the final six hitters that he faced … Steven Matz worked the eighth and Matt Svanson the ninth, when the Marlins broke the shutout bid when a one-out walk came around to score.
Key stat: Winn finished with three hits, raising his average since the All-Star break to .405 (17-of-42) in 11 games.
Worth noting: Nolan Gorman (back) and Lars Nootbaar (ribs) are heading to Double A Springfield to begin rehab assignments … There was more bad injury news for a Cardinals pitching prospect on Monday with a report that Tekoah Roby has undergone Tommy John surgery. Roby was pitching well this season after missing most of the last two years because of injuries. He will now likely miss all of 2026 as well … Two other prospects, Cooper Hjerpe and Sem Robberse, also are recovering from the same surgery earlier this season … The Cardinals swapped relievers before Monday night’s game, bringing Svanson back from Memphis and returning Andre Granillo to the Triple A club after he worked 2 1/3 innings on Sunday.
Up next: Sonny Gray will get the start on Tuesday night in the middle game of the series. Former Cardinal Sandy Alcantara, the subject of trade rumors, is set to start for the Marlins.
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