Braves 2, Cardinals 0
Andrelton Simmons snapped a scoreless tie with a two-run eighth-inning double, lifting host Atlanta to its second straight victory in a matchup of National League division leaders.
Simmons ripped a bases-loaded double to left-center with two outs in the eighth off Trevor Rosenthal, plating Freddie Freeman and Brian McCann to make a loser of Randy Choate (1-1). Luis Avilan (3-0) worked a scoreless eighth and Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth for his 30th save.
Chris Johnson finished 2-for-3 with a walk for the NL East-leading Braves. Choate allowed two runs on one hit with one walk in one-third of an inning for NL Central leader St. Louis, which has dropped two in a row after a four-game winning streak.
Atlanta starter Julio Teheran pitched outstanding, holding St. Louis to only a pair of doubles by Matt Holliday and Jon Jay in seven scoreless innings with one walk and six strikeouts. St. Louis starter Joe Kelly worked in and out of trouble, allowing seven hits with three walks but no runs in 6 1/3 innings.
The Braves left runners on first and third in the fourth and wasted a great scoring chance in the seventh, loading the bases with one out, but Justin Upton grounded into an inning-ending double play off Seth Maness to keep the game scoreless.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Maness leads NL relievers by forcing 11 double plays. … Johnson raised his average to .332. … Kimbrel joins John Smoltz as the only pitchers in Atlanta history with three 30-save seasons.