CARDINALS 5, MARLINS 2
at Jupiter, Fla.
Thursday, March 6

Marlins at the plate: Cody Ross singled twice and drove in both Marlins runs. Cameron Maybin, making his return after missing time due to a hamstring injury, singled and stole a base.

Cardinals at the plate: Skip Schumaker, Joe Mather and Albert Pujols hit consecutive home runs in the fifth inning, turning a tie game into a three-run Cardinals lead. Schumaker also had two singles, and Mather added a single and a double.

Marlins on the mound: Emergency starter Aaron Thompson allowed two runs on five hits over three innings, striking out three against one walk. Kevin Gregg was touched for the three homers in a difficult inning.

Cardinals on the mound: Todd Wellemeyer fared well for three innings, then ran into trouble in the fourth. He allowed two runs on two hits in 3 2/3, with four walks and four Ks. Brad Thompson pitched three scoreless innings with four hits, no walks and four strikeouts.

Grapefruit League records: Marlins 6-4, Cardinals 4-5.

Up next: The Cardinals head up the coast to face the Dodgers in Vero Beach, Fla., on Friday. Joel Pineiro will go against Chad Billingsley at 1:05 p.m. ET. The Marlins will host the Nationals at Roger Dean Stadium, also at 1:05 p.m. ET. Andrew Miller and Garrett Mock will be the starters.