JUPITER, Fla. -- Charlie Tilson singled and scored the tiebreaking run on a seventh-inning wild pitch on Thursday to lift the Cardinals to a 4-3 win over the Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium. The game was the first of seven between the two clubs in Grapefruit League play.
The Marlins took a first-inning lead on a solo homer from new No. 2 hitter Marcell Ozuna but were otherwise stymied by Cardinals starter Tyler Lyons. Lyons, who is competing for a job in the bullpen, scattered two other hits over his three innings of work. Lyons threw 42 pitches.
"First time out it is about getting out there and facing hitters… and getting back in the groove," Lyons said. "For me, I just wanted to get out there, attack the zone, throw strikes and try to get people out."
Tom Koehler, Miami's projected No. 3 starter, fell behind in counts and the Cardinals made him pay. In 1 2/3 innings, the right-hander was tagged for three runs (two earned) on three extra-base hits with two strikeouts and a walk. Koehler threw 41 pitches, with 25 for strikes.
His struggles started in the first inning when Tommy Pham tripled to open the frame and scored on Dee Gordon's throwing error. The Cardinals scored twice more in the third, which opened with back-to-back doubles from Brandon Moss and Carlos Peguero.
"I was very anxious all day," Koehler said. "The kind of energy being able to play in the game again. It's been six months, so it was really nice to be out there."
Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal struck out two in his spring debut, and setup candidate Jonathan Broxton also pitched a scoreless inning. Lefty setup man Mike Dunn, whose bullpen role could be enhanced with Carter Capps sidelined, struck out one in a clean inning of work.
Up next for the Marlins: Friday is a split-squad day, with a home game against the Nationals at 1:05 p.m. ET at Roger Dean Stadium and a road game at 1:10 p.m. ET in Port St. Lucie, Fla., against the Mets. Lefty Adam Conley gets the starting nod against Washington, with Jarred Cosart is expected to follow. Giancarlo Stanton is scheduled to bat cleanup. At Port St. Lucie, lefty Justin Nicolino will start. Marcel Ozuna and Christian Yelich are on the travel roster.
Up next for the Cardinals: Lefty Jaime Garcia will make his spring debut on Friday when the Cardinals travel to Kissimmee, Fla., to face the Astros. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. CT, and it can be seen live on MLB.TV. Jordan Walden, who is recovering from a shoulder injury, and Luke Weaver, a former first-round pick, are also both scheduled to appear.