Nolan Arenado continues to dominate and make the case for early-season MVP.

His clutch two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning gave the Cardinals a 2-0 lead, and it was all they needed to win their second straight against the Miami Marlins on Wednesday night.

It was Arenado’s fifth home run of the season, and just escaped the reach of left fielder Jorge Soler to break the scoreless tie.

In the bottom of the ninth, Giovanny Gallegos earned the save.

All evening long it was a pitching duel between St. Louis and Miami. Former Cardinals prospect Sandy Alcantara, shut down the Cardinals for eight innings. He threw 98 pitches to get 24 outs and six of them came with strikeouts, three of them from Arenado. He also only allowed four hits.

But in the top of the ninth, Anthony Bender walked Tyler O’Neill, and Arenado launched a two-run shot to put the Cardinals ahead.

With the victory, the Cardinals improved to 7-3 on the season.