Braves 4, Cardinals 1
Mike Minor allowed one run in seven innings and added an RBI single as host Atlanta won the opener of a three-game series between National League division leaders.
The NL East-leading Braves got two hits and an RBI from Chris Johnson and a solo homer from Jason Heyward to extend their advantage atop the division to 8 1/2 games over the Washington Nationals. Minor (10-5), whose second-inning single snapped a 1-all tie, scattered four hits and struck out five without a walk, and Craig Kimbrel worked around a walk in the ninth for his 29th save.
Yadier Molina belted a solo homer for NL Central leader St. Louis. Adam Wainwright (13-6), seeking to become the first 14-game winner in the NL, gave up four runs (three earned) on seven hits in seven innings with eight strikeouts.
Molina’s second-inning homer with one out staked the Cardinals to a 1-0 lead. The Braves rallied in the bottom half, as Johnson’s single to left tied the game before Minor slapped a single to left to score Dan Uggla.
Heyward’s eighth homer of the year with two outs in the fifth made it 3-1. Atlanta added an unearned run in the seventh, when Johnson scored on shortstop Pete Kozma’s throwing error.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Johnson posted his 30th multi-hit performance of the season. … Wainwright, who was selected by Atlanta in the first round of the 2000 draft, dropped to 6-2 lifetime against the Braves. … Atlanta 1B Freddie Freeman struck out four times.