Cardinals closer throws ball away in ninth, Marlins win another one-run game, can get four-game sweep on Thursday

MIAMI — Two runs scored on a throwing error by Cardinals closer Jordan Hicks with one out in the ninth inning, and the Miami Marlins rallied to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 10-9 on Wednesday night.

With Yuli Gurriel on first after a single and pinch-runner Garrett Hampson on second, Joey Wendle hit a dribbler back to Hicks (1-5). The pitcher’s high, errant throw got past first baseman Paul Goldschmidt to allow both runners to score.

The Cardinals’ Jordan Walker hit a two run homer off Marlins closer A.J. Puk (4-2) in the ninth to make it 9-8.

The Cardinals came from behind to tie the game twice — once in the third and again in the fourth — before Bryan De La Cruz put Miami ahead 7-6 in the sixth with an RBI double.

Garrett Cooper made it a two-run lead with a single, which was needed, as the Cardinals cut the deficit to one run in the seventh with an RBI double from Willson Contreras that scored Nolan Arenado.

Arenado doubled three times, including a two-run double in a five-run third inning that tied it at 5.

The Marlins had squandered a five-run lead built after chasing Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore in the first inning with five hits, a walk and four runs.

Luis Arraez led off the first with a double, Soler singled and De La Cruz singled to drive in Arraez. Cooper had a two-run double, Gurriel walked, and Dane Myers added an RBI.

Right-hander Dakota Hudson, who was recalled from Triple-A Memphis earlier Wednesday, replaced Liberatore after just seven batters and retired Stallings and Jon Berti to stop the onslaught at 4-0.

Jean Segura made it 5-0 in the second when he drew a bases-loaded walk.

In the third, Arenado and Contreras hit back-to-back two-run doubles, and Nolan Gorman tied it with a two-run blast to center field for his 17th home run of the season.

Miami starter Bryan Hoeing allowed five hits, five runs, struck out three and walked three in three innings.

Jacob Stallings homered in the third, giving Miami a short-lived 6-5 lead, which the Cardinals tied in the fourth.

Segura was ejected from the game by home plate umpire Jeff Nelson after disagreeing on a called third strike in the seventh.

STRONG START

One day after making his major league debut, rookie outfielder Myers made one of the biggest plays of the game. Myers robbed Arenado of an extra base and a potential go-ahead run in the fourth when he caught the ball before slamming into the fence at center. Myers also had a base hit and an RBI Wednesday. The 27-year old was called up from Triple-A Jacksonville on Monday and had his first major league base hit with an RBI single on Tuesday.

SEASON LOW

The loss put the Cardinals 16 games under .500, which matches a season low. St. Louis was 16 games under on June 16 amid a six-game losing streak. This is the Cardinals’ slowest start to a season since beginning 35-50 in 1990. Meanwhile, the Marlins would move to 15 games over .500 for the first time since 2003 with a sweep of St. Louis.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: Center fielder Tommy Edman was a late scratch with right wrist discomfort but came in as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning.

UP NEXT

Marlins RHP Eury Perez (5-6, 4.82) will take the mound against RHP Jack Flaherty (5-5, 4.60) for the Cardinals in Thursday’s series finale.