After managing only one hit through five innings, the Cardinals got to a tiring Trevor Richards in the sixth inning and took a 1-0 lead over Miami on Wednesday at Busch Stadium.
Dexter Fowler fisted a looper into shallow left field to drive in Harrison Bader, who was pinch running for Jose Martinez, who got things started with a single to center.
Daniel Ponce de Leon pitched six shutout innings for the Cardinals, striking out six and allowing just two hits.
Through five innings, the teams had combined for two hits, one for each team. Curtis Granderson had a ground-rule double with one out in the first and finished the inning there.