ST. LOUIS _ It was an encouraging start for Tom Koehler. It just wasn't a winning one.
The struggling right-hander managed to keep the Marlins within striking distance of the Cardinals on Thursday. But it wasn't enough as the Cardinals won 4-3 to gain a split of their series.
Koehler brought the Majors' highest ERA (8.33) into the outing. After allowing three runs over five innings, he got it down to 8.00. But the performance wasn't strong enough to earn him his second victory.
Ichiro Suzuki became the all-time leader in hits among foreign-born players, and Marcell Ozuna had three RBIs singles.
But it wasn't enough to get past the Cardinals.
Suzuki had two singles to give him 3,054 for his big-league career and push him past Panama native Rod Carew. Suzuki now ranks 24th all-time in hits, one behind Rickey Henderson at No. 23.
Ozuna gave the Marlins a 1-0 lead in the first with a two-out single off Cardinals starter Michael Wacha and a 2-1 lead in the third with yet another RBI single.
But the Cardinals answered each time.
Luke Voit hit a solo homer off Koehler in the second that tied the score and a two-run double in the third that put St. Louis ahead for good.
Trailing 4-3, the Marlins threatened in the eighth when Suzuki and JT Riddle singled to start the inning. But manager Don Mattingly's decision to pinch-hit A.J. Ellis backfired. Ellis tried to drop down a sacrifice bunt. But it was fielded for a double play, and the Marlins failed to score in the inning.
