ST. LOUIS -- Giancarlo Stanton kept his promise -- he was back in the Marlins lineup Saturday.
Keeping his word about competing in his first Home Run Derby Monday and first All-Star Game Tuesday in Kansas City, though, appears doubtful. So might suiting up for the Marlins again for at least the next few weeks.
The 22-year old slugger was lifted in the third inning of Saturday afternoon's 3-2 loss to the Cardinals at Busch Stadium with discomfort in his right knee, a day after he said he would eventually need surgery to remove the loose bodies of bone and cartilage fragments discovered earlier this week during an MRI.
Stanton is set to have surgery early Sunday morning in Miami. He will not be participating in the Home Run Derby or the All-Star Game festivities.
Saturday's start was Stanton's first since Monday when he tweaked his troublesome knee against the Brewers. Stanton played two innings Saturday in the field before he was replaced by Scott Cousins when it was his turn to hit in the third inning.
In the first inning, Stanton made a running catch near the wall in right-center field. He later singled to right in the second and scored on Justin Ruggiano's home run.
Stanton said Friday his plan was to play through the discomfort while managing his knee with treatment. He also said as long as the Marlins remained in the playoff hunt, and his knee wasn't in danger of being injured further, he would hold off on a procedure until after the season.
Asked how long he would be out following surgery, Stanton said he was told it could mean missing two to eight weeks.
Manager Ozzie Guillen estimated that Stanton could be out for at least 4-6 weeks.
Cardinals starter Kyle Lohse (9-2) pitched seven strong innings, giving up just three hits with one walk and four strikeouts. It was his third win over the Marlins (41-43) this season.
Marlins starter Carlos Zambrano (4-7) went just five innings, giving up seven hits and three earned runs with two walks and four strikeouts. He gave up all three runs in the fourth inning.
Skip Schumaker drove in the first run with a single to left before Tony Cruz tripled down the right field line, scoring two more runs.
Logan Morrison and Ruggiano both singled in the ninth with two outs. But Jason Motte got Donovan Solano to pop out to the catcher to end the game and pick up his 20th save.
The Marlins set a new team record Saturday when the thermometer inside read 106 degrees at first pitch. The reading is the highest in Marlins’ history. On Friday night, the 103 degree heat matched the warmest ever.
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