Melancon struck out one batter and allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth inning Friday, recording his eighth save of the season.
He gave up a double to the red-hot Aledmys Diaz but otherwise pitched efficiently, throwing nine of 12 pitches for strikes. Melancon's one red flag might be his low ground-ball rate. Entering Friday, he was well off his career rate (55.9 percent) through the first five-plus weeks of 2016 (39.4 percent). He continued that trend Friday, giving up two fly balls and one ground ball against the Cardinals.