Cardinals rookie bests Braves 4-2

A battle of rookie lefties goes to the Cardinals as Tim Cooney held the Braves to two runs in seven innings of a 4-2 win in St. Louis.

Manny Banuelos fell behind early when Randal Grichuk followed a two-out walk in the second inning with a two-run homer. The Cardinals would then add solo runs in each of the next two innings. Jhonny Peralta singled home Matt Carpenter, who had doubled with two outs in the third inning. In the fourth, Mark Reynolds chased home Grichuk with a one-out single.

The Atlanta offense had just a pair of singles through five innings, but was able to cut the Cardinals' lead in half in the sixth against Cooney. Andrelton Simmons singled leading off the inning and scored ahead of Cameron Maybin's one-out double. A wild pitch with Maybin at third brought him home for a second run.

Banuelos departed after giving up a leadoff single to Jason Heyward in the sixth. He allowed four runs on six hits in five innings. David Aardsma finished the frame, escaping a two-on-no-out situation with an inning-ending, run-saving double play. The Braves turned three double plays in all.

Cooney struck out five in seven innings. He did not walk a batter in earning his first major-league win. Kevin Siegrist denied the Braves' rally in the ninth to pick up his fifth save.

Jason Heyward was 1-4 with a stolen base, his 15th of the season.

Win Expectancy