Cardinals Rout Marlins, 14-6, As Luke Voit Drives In 4; Max Kepler 4-for-4 In Minnesota Win

Players of the Day for Monday, July 3, 2017

American League

Kepler: 4-for-4

Minnesota hasn't been playing too well recently, but they continue to hang in the race in the AL Central and are currently tied with Kansas City and Tampa Bay for the second wild card spot after a 9-5 win over the Angels Monday.

The Twins victory was only the third in their last nine games, keeping them tied with the Royals, 2 1/2 games behind the Cleveland Indians in the divisional contest.

Max Kepler was 4-for-4 with a home run, double, and two singles, driving in three runs. His double in the third inning put the Twins up, 4-0. A solo home run in the fifth made the score 5-2. After the Angels cut the advantage to 7-5, Kepler drove in his final run in the eighth on an infield single, his fourth hit of the game.

Kepler's home run was his 10th, to go with 35 RBI and a .261 batting average.

The Twins will be looking to take the second game of the series Tuesday at Target Field. Game time is 2:05 pm ET.

National League

Voit: first MLB homer

Fresh off taking two of three from the Nationals, the St. Louis Cardinals extended their home stand by drubbing the Marlins, 14-6, in the opener a four game series at Busch Stadium.

The Cardinals banged out 15 hits off five Miami hurlers, most of them coming against starter Jeff Locke (0-5) who allowed 11 hits and 11 runs in 2 2/3 innings.

Rookie first baseman Luke Voit hit his first major league home run and drove in his first runs, accounting for four of St. Louis' scores.

Voit drove in a run with a ground out in the first as the Cardinals and doubled in another in the third when the Cardinals erupted for seven more runs and an 11-0 lead.

In the eighth, with the game well in hand, Voit launched a 429-foot home run to center with a man aboard, completing the rout. Voit is batting .400, but has had only 15 at-bats.

St. Louis continues to battle in the NL Central, where the Brewers lead by 2 1/2 games over the Cubs. St. Louis is 3 1/2 out and will look for another win in game two, 2:15 pm ET, Tuesday.