Heyward helps Braves complete sweep of Cards
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Jason Heyward went 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBI and Chris Johnson added three hits and three runs scored as the Atlanta Braves downed the St. Louis Cardinals, 5-2, to complete a three-game sweep at Turner Field.
Andrelton Simmons went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Joey Terdoslavich added an RBI single for the Braves, who have gone 6-4 since the All-Star break to improve to 60-45.
"We played well. We were able to beat up a good ball club. It is always nice to get a series win," said Braves outfielder Justin Upton.
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Kris Medlen (7-10) gave up two runs on eight hits while striking out four over six innings to snap a three-start losing streak. Craig Kimbrel needed just eight pitches to notch his NL-best 31st save of the season.
Shelby Miller (10-7) was charged with three runs -- two earned -- on six hits over 5 2/3 innings to absorb his first loss since June 28.
"You never want to go into a place and get swept. We were battling the whole time. It's not like we had a terrible series, we just didn't come out on top in any of the games. There were some tough losses," said Miller.
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Miller also had two hits, including an RBI double, and Carlos Beltran drove in a run for the Cardinals, who were swept for just the second time all season.
Atlanta took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Johnson laced a two-out single down the right-field line and made his way to third when the ball skipped past Beltran in the corner. Simmons then cracked a base hit to center to score Johnson.
Heyward smashed a leadoff homer in the third to put the Braves up 2-0.
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The Cardinals tied the game in the fifth. Pete Kozma ripped a one-out double to right then scored after Miller laced a double to the right-center gap to put the Cards on the board. Beltran then dropped a base hit into shallow left field to score Miller.
The Braves took the lead with a pair of runs in the sixth. Johnson and Simmons reached on back-to-back two-out singles before Terdoslavich sent a grounder through the hole on the left side to push Johnson across. Heyward followed with an RBI single of his own to make it 4-2.
Atlanta tacked on one more in the eighth. Johnson doubled, and after Simmons flew out, Reed Johnson bounced an infield single to the left side. Kozma fired a dart to first but Allen Craig was unable to hold on to the throw and Chris Johnson came around to score.
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Game Notes
Chris Johnson, who has hit safely in six straight games, passed Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina (.334) for the NL lead in batting average at .338 ... Atlanta went 4-for-7 with runners in scoring position ... St. Louis was swept by the Texas Rangers June 21-23 ... Game time: 2:58.