MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (Interstat) — The Miami Marlins methodically built an early lead behind a relentless offensive attack and a strong start from Janson Junk, cruising to a 4-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday evening at loanDepot Park to split their three-game series.

A crowd of 7,593 watched the Marlins pound out 12 hits while holding the Cardinals to just four, stifling a St. Louis lineup that had averaged over five runs per game during a recent successful stretch. The win pushed Miami back toward the .500 mark at 12-13, while the Cardinals fell to 14-10.

The most important sequence of the game came in the bottom of the second inning, which transformed a scoreless pitchers’ duel into a lead the Marlins would never relinquish. After being held hitless in the first, Miami’s offense ignited against Cardinals starter Kyle Leahy. Liam Hicks led off with a single and Agustín Ramírez followed with another, putting two on with none out. After a force out, Owen Caissie delivered the game’s first run with an RBI single to left, scoring Ramírez. Leahy then hit Leo Jiménez with a pitch to reload the bases. Following a popout, Jakob Marsee worked a crucial, patient walk on a full count to force in Heriberto Hernández, giving Miami a 2-0 lead and setting a tone of disciplined at-bats that would last all night.

Miami extended its lead with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth, Marsee again played a key role, driving an RBI single to right that scored Jiménez, though Marsee was thrown out trying to advance on the play. In the fifth, Otto Lopez singled, advanced on a groundout, and scored on a sharp line-drive single to center by Ramírez, his second hit of the game, making it 4-0.

That was more than enough support for Junk, who earned his first win of the season against two losses. The right-hander navigated five scoreless innings, scattering three hits and one walk while striking out two. He benefited from a double play and consistently worked ahead in the count, never allowing a Cardinals runner to reach third base during his outing.

The Cardinals’ offense, which entered the game having won seven of its last ten, was silenced until the ninth inning. They managed only two hits through the first eight frames against Junk and relievers Michael Petersen and Andrew Nardi. Their lone breakthrough came with one out in the ninth when Iván Herrera launched a solo home run, his third of the season, to left-center field off Marlins closer Pete Fairbanks. The blast broke up the shutout bid. Nolan Gorman followed with a walk, bringing the tying run to the on-deck circle, but Fairbanks settled in, inducing a popout and a flyout before striking out Nathan Church swinging to end the game and secure his fifth save.

Leahy took the loss for St. Louis, falling to 2-3. He was charged with all four Miami runs on eight hits over five innings, walking two and striking out one. The Cardinals’ defense turned two double plays behind him, but they could not overcome the Marlins’ constant pressure, which saw at least one Miami batter reach base in every inning except the seventh.

Offensively for Miami, the production was widespread. Ramírez led the way with two hits, a walk, an RBI and a run scored. Hicks, Marsee, Javier Sanoja, and Lopez each also recorded multi-hit games. Marsee’s day was particularly impactful, featuring the go-ahead, bases-loaded walk and an RBI single. Sanoja, who started at third base, collected three hits.

For St. Louis, Herrera’s homer accounted for their only run. Nolan Gorman doubled in the seventh for one of their four hits, but was stranded at third. The Cardinals went 0 for 3 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base.

The result defied the pregame projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a 6-3 Cardinals victory. However, Miami’s win aligned with their status as a slight pregame favorite, with their ELO probability to win pegged at 52.7%. The combined five total runs fell well under the over/under line of 8.5.

The Cardinals will now return home to open a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners on Friday night. The Marlins embark on a challenging West Coast road trip, beginning with a three-game set against the San Francisco Giants, also on Friday.