MIAMI • The Cardinals opted to go with a pinch-hitter for Lance Lynn in the top of the seventh inning to try and capitalize on a scoring chance against the Marlins and widen the lead for the righthander.
They did.
Pete Kozma and Greg Garcia dropped a couple bunts that, when mishandled by the meandering Marlins, keyed a three-run inning and opened a 4-0 lead for the Cardinals. Kozma has been on base all three times he has come to the plate Thursday. He has scored two of the Cardinals' four runs, and he's reached at least third base three times.