JUPITER — Even though it was nothing more than a spring training game, don’t think John Maine wasn’t excited.
Maine, a former rotation mainstay for the New York Mets who hasn’t pitched since 2010 because of an assortment of injuries, completed his two-inning allotment for the Marlins as their starter in Saturday’s Grapefruit League opener, an 8-3 victory against St. Louis.
“It’s been [three] years,” Maine said. “I was really antsy, really excited.”
Maine said his first spring outings have not usually turned out well in the past, which is why he was especially pleased with Saturday’s performance, one in which he gave up only one hit — a wind-aided solo homer by the Cardinals’ David Freese.
“It’s the first time I think I’ve ever gotten through two innings in my first start,” Maine said.
Maine, a nonroster invitee, is among several pitchers contending for the open fifth spot in the rotation.
Silverio homers
Rule V draft pick Alfredo Silverio homered off former Marlins reliever Randy Choate in the victory against St. Louis.
“We’ve got to see what we’ve got there,” Marlins manager Mike Redmond said of Silverio, who missed the entire 2012 season in the Dodgers’ farm system because of a myriad injuries he sustained in a car accident.
If the Marlins don’t keep Silverio on their active roster for at least 90 days this upcoming season, they’ll have to give him back to the Dodgers.
Giancarlo Stanton drove in a pair of runs with a ground ball in the first inning and single in the second off Cardinals starter Trevor Rosenthal.
Catcher Jeff Mathis, who left the game in the fourth with a broken collarbone after being hit with a foul tip, drove in a run in the third inning with a single.
Whatever works
Juan Pierre’s bunts didn’t go according to plan Saturday. But they worked out in the long run.
After fouling off two bunt attempts in his first at bat, Pierre tripled over the head of Cardinals’ center fielder John Jay. On his next trip to the plate, with a runner on third, Pierre tried to hit a hard bunt on the ground past drawn-in third baseman Freese.
The ball gained trajectory, however, and sailed over Freese’s head for a RBI single.
“I wasn’t necessarily trying to go over his head like that,” Pierre said. “I wish I was that good, but I’m not that good to say I’ll just hit it over his head.”
Pierre is the majors’ active leader with 196 bunt hits.
Coming up
• Sunday: Marlins RHP Henderson Alvarez (9-14, 4.85 ERA) at Washington Nationals RHP Jordan Zimmermann (12-8, 2.94), Viera, 1:05 p.m.
• Monday: Marlins LHP Wade LeBlanc (2-5, 3.67) at Atlanta Braves RHP Kris Medlen (10-1, 1.57), Lake Buena Vista, 1:05 p.m.
