MIAMI - Rookie Jose Fernandez out pitched a rusty Jake Westbrook, and the team with the worst record in the majors beat the team with the best record.
Fernandez had a career-high 10 strikeouts in seven innings Friday, and the Miami Marlins spoiled Westbrook’s return from an elbow injury by defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4.
The 20-year-old Fernandez (4-3) became the first pitcher under the age of 21 to strike out 10 or more since Felix Hernandez with Seattle in 2007. Relying heavily on breaking balls, he threw a career-high 107 pitches and allowed three runs, two earned.
Westbrook (2-2), who had been sidelined with elbow inflammation, went five innings in his first game since May 8. He allowed five runs, two of them unearned because of a misplayed grounder by second baseman Matt Carpenter, and his ERA rose to 2.05.
Fernandez settled down after giving up two runs and three hits in the first inning. He had a 1-2-3 third, striking out Carlos Beltran, Matt Holliday and Allen Craig.
The right-hander improved to 4-1 over his past eight starts with a 2.42 ERA. Fernandez also singled home a home, while Giancarlo Stanton had three hits, including a two-run double.
The Marlins won despite going 2 for 15 with runners in scoring position. They’ve won seven of their past 13 games, their best stretch this season.
Beltran singled in the fifth to extend his hitting streak to 13 games, but Marlins relievers retired the final five batters. Steve Cishek pitched a perfect ninth for his eighth save in 10 chances.
PIRATES 3, DODGERS 0 Jeff Locke (6-1) allowed just two hits over seven innings and host Pittsburgh edged Los Angeles.
CUBS 6, METS 3 David DeJesus hit a bases-loaded triple before injuring his shoulder when he crashed into the outfield wall, and visiting Chicago beat New York behind resurgent starter Edwin Jackson.
REDS 4, BREWERS 3 (10) Jay Bruce homered off Burke Badenhop with one out in the 10th inning on Friday night, rallying host Cincinnati to a victory over Milwaukee.
GIANTS 6, BRAVES 0 Madison Bumgarner allowed two hits in seven innings and combined with Sandy Rosario for a three-hit shutout in San Francisco’s victory over host Atlanta.
PHILLIES 8, ROCKIES 7 Freddy Galvis hit 2 two-run triples and scored the go-ahead run on Humberto Quintero’s single, and visiting Philadelphia rallied from a five-run deficit to beat Colorado.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
BLUE JAYS 8, RANGERS 0 Mark Buehrle threw seven shutout innings, Colby Rasmus and J.P. Arencibia homered, and visiting Toronto handed Texas its fourth straight loss. Buehrle (3-4) improved to 13-5 against the Rangers.
ROYALS 7, RAYS 2 Luis Mendoza (2-3) pitched six innings to win for the first time in six starts and Elliot Johnson had another big hit against his former team, leading Kansas City to a victory over host Tampa Bay.
ORIOLES 2, RED SOX 0 Chris Tillman took a two-hitter into the seventh inning, Chris Davis hit his major league-leading 22nd home run and Baltimore blanked visiting Boston in a duel between the top two teams in the AL East. Manny Machado had three hits for the Orioles.
ASTROS 2, WHITE SOX 1 Erik Bedard (2-3) pitched six solid innings, and Jose Altuve hit a go ahead RBI single to give host Houston a victory over Chicago.
TIGERS 4, TWINS 0 Prince Fielder broke open a scoreless game with a two-run double in the sixth inning, the spark that Rick Porcello and visiting Detroit used to beat Minnesota.
INTERLEAGUE
INDIANS 2, NATIONALS 1 Jason Kipnis’ run-scoring fielder’s choice in the ninth inning lifted host Cleveland to a victory over Washington.
Friday’s games
NATIONAL LEAGUE Pittsburgh 3, LA Dodgers 0 Chicago Cubs 6, N.Y. Mets 3 Cincinnati 4, Milwaukee 3 (10) Miami 5, St. Louis 4 San Francisco 6, Atlanta 0 Philadelphia 8, Colorado 7 Arizona at San Diego, (n)
AMERICAN LEAGUE Baltimore 2, Boston 0 Kansas City 7, Tampa Bay 2 Toronto 8, Texas 0 Houston 2, Chicago White Sox 1 Detroit 4, Minnesota 0 NY Yankees at LA Angels, (n) Seattle at Oakland, (n)
INTERLEAGUE Cleveland 2, Washington 1
Sports, Pages 22 on 06/15/2013