Cardinals at Marlins Recap: Justin Masterson shuts down Marlins in 5-2 win

Well, there's certainly nothing like a relatively comfortable victory to ease the minds a little bit.  Justin Masterson, who has struggled this season to the tune of a 5.58 ERA, looked like vintage Justin Masterson tonight, pitching 7 shutout innings, allowing only 3 hits while getting 3 strikeouts and 12 groundouts. The offense banged out 5 runs on 10 hits, which feels like 10 runs on 20 hits with this offense.

The scoring for the Cardinals started in the top of the third inning with a Jon Jay single, Matt Carpenter single, Matt Holliday walk, and a Matt Adams single up the middle to score two runs.  As he's been struggling lately, it's good to see him make some hard contact.

In the top of the fifth, Carpenter and Wong would single after Masterson started the frame with an out.  Matt Holliday hit into what looked like a tailor-made double play, but second baseman Jordany Valdespin threw low to the first baseman and Matt Carpenter scored on the play.

In the sixth, with Oscar Taveras at third and Jon Jay on second, Justin Masterson singled through second base side to score the fourth run to make it 4-0. Descalso walked in a run in the eighth to cap the scoring for the Cardinals

In the bottom of the ninth, the Marlins would get two runs back off of Kevin Siegrist off a Jeff Baker home run, but Trevor Rosenthal came in to close off the game for a 5-2 win.

Three Stars of the Game (by WPA)

1. Justin Masterson (+.290) - Just brilliant today. 7 IP, 0 ER, 3 SO, 0 BB, 12 groundouts
2. Matt Adams (+.165) - Only 1 for 5, but with the two opening RBI of the game
3. Matt Carpenter (+.117) - 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored

Three ...not Stars of the Game

1. Kolten Wong (-.076) - 1 for 4 but struck out with two men on in the third
2. Jhonny Peralta (-.061) - 1 for 4
3. AJ Pierzynski (-.030) - Also 1 for 4 with a strikeout

Source: FanGraphs