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Stanton powers Marlins past Cardinals in 6-5 win

MIAMI - Giancarlo Stanton led the Miami Marlins to a victory with his bat and his glove.

Stanton hit two home runs and made a spectacular diving catch in right field to help the Marlins beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-5 on Monday night.

"He was definitely trying to take that game over not only with his bat, but with his glove," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said.

Stanton's 13th multihomer game established a franchise career record and he tied Hanley Ramirez for second place on the club's home run list with 148. Stanton hit a two-run homer in the first and a solo shot in the third to give him 31 on the season and five in his last five games.

"Just feeling better and having better at-bats and pitch selection is a little better," Stanton said of his recent surge.

Marlins starter Tom Koehler (8-9) allowed three runs and eight hits in five innings.

Steve Cishek escaped the ninth to record his 30th save in 33 chances. With two outs, Cishek allowed an RBI triple by Kolten Wong and an RBI single by Matt Holliday, allowing the Cardinals to pull within 6-5. Cishek struck out Matt Adams to end the game.

Jon Jay hit a two-run homer, Holliday had four hits, and Shelby Miller (8-9) allowed five runs in five innings for the Cardinals, who have lost three of four.

"We had plenty of hits, they just had bigger ones," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said.

Stanton's diving catch to his left on the warning track took a hit away from Wong in the fifth inning.

"I was more trying to protect myself and slide on grass as opposed to dirt and make sure I secure it at the same time," Stanton said.

The catch prompted the home crowd into giving him a standing ovation, with two homers already to his credit.

"That was really cool that they appreciate things like that," Stanton said.

Koehler and the Marlins also benefited from key defensive plays by Jordany Valdespin, Christian Yelich, and Adeiny Hechavarria.

"I don't think I've had that many top-notch plays in a course of a season, that was unbelievable," Koehler said. "If you watch SportsCenter tonight, there's no reason why we shouldn't have all 10 (top plays)."

The Cardinals were 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position.

The Marlins led 3-0 after Stanton's homers, but the Cardinals tied it with three runs in the fourth.

"I made some pitches, but when it came down to the best hitter on their team I threw two of the worst pitches I've probably thrown all night," Miller said.

Hechavarria and Yelich drove in runs in the bottom of the inning to put the Marlins up 5-3.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Marlins hard-throwing right-hander Carter Capps, who has been out since May 25 with a right elbow sprain, could make his return to the team as early as September.

"He's feeling good and from what I've heard, everything is going great, he's feeling great," Redmond said.

UP NEXT

Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright (14-6, 2.28) will take the mound Tuesday against Marlins right-hander Jarred Cosart (0-1, 6.75). Wainwright will be making his first start against the Marlins in four years and Cosart will be making his return to the mound after being scratched from his last start with a sore left oblique.

CISHEK IN RARE COMPANY

Cishek became only the third pitcher in Marlins history to record back-to-back 30-save seasons, joining Juan Carlos Oviedo (2010-11) and Robb Nenn (1996-97).

JAY SHOWING POWER

Jay has hit two home runs in his last three games after going homerless in his previous 93 games. The Miami native was able to hit his third homer of the season in front of a number of friends and family members in attendance.

"It's always fun to come back home, but I'm here trying to win some games," Jay said.

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