MIAMI — The St. Louis Cardinals suffered a potentially damaging loss in the first inning of Sunday’s game against the Miami Marlins when rookie shortstop Aledmys Diaz was hit by an Andrew Cashner fastball.
Diaz, who was hit on his right thumb, was removed from the game. A valuable rookie, Diaz is batting .312 with 14 home runs and 57 RBIs this season. There was no immediate announcement from the team regarding his status.
Cashner, making his Miami Marlins’ debut after being acquired from the San Diego Padres, has hit four Cardinals players this season.
St. Louis pitcher Carlos Martinez seemingly retaliated with two outs and one on in the bottom of the first inning by hitting Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton in the back.
That move backfired, however, as the next batter, Marcel Ozuna, hit a two-run double. On the next pitch, J.T. Realmuto stroked an RBI single to give Miami a 3-0 lead.