Cardinals 4, Braves 3
Lance Berkman recorded two hits and an RBI as the St. Louis Cardinals built an early four-run lead and held on for a 4-3 triumph over the visiting Atlanta Braves on Saturday.
Rafael Furcal added two hits and scored a run for the Cardinals, who climbed within 5 1/2 games of Atlanta in the National League wild-card race. St. Louis also closed within six games of first-place Milwaukee in the NL Central.
Jaime Garcia (12-7) allowed three runs over six innings en route to his second straight win following a six-start drought. Jason Botte worked a scoreless ninth for his fourth save in seven chances.
Furcal led off the first inning with a single, stole second and scored on Albert Pujols' one-out single. David Freese had an RBI double later in the frame and Berkman added one of his own in the third for a 3-0 lead.
Yadier Molina's RBI single later in the third proved crucial as Freddie Freeman belted a two-run homer in the fourth and Brian McCann plated a run an inning later with a single to draw Atlanta within 4-3.
Atlanta's Derek Lowe (9-14) yielded four runs in six innings. The veteran fell to 1-8 lifetime against St. Louis.