Cardinals 1 - 2 Braves
Final
  for this game

Braves eke by Cardinals to stop skid

May 7, 2014 - 2:39 AM Atlanta, GA (SportsNetwork.com) - Chris Johnson hit an RBI single in the eighth inning to help the Atlanta Braves to a 2-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in the second of a three-game set from Turner Field.

Justin Upton hit a solo home run for the Braves, who snapped a seven-game losing streak.

Gavin Floyd pitched seven innings in the start and gave up one run on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Floyd was making his debut with the team as he signed with the club this past offseason, but was recovering from surgery last May that repaired the ulnar collateral ligament and a torn flexor muscle in his right elbow.

"Very grateful to have this opportunity to be able to play baseball again and let me get back out there," said Floyd. "A lot of emotions and a lot of excitement, the whole process leading up to this."

David Carpenter (2-0) got the win for tossing a perfect eighth inning.

Matt Holliday drove in the lone run of the game for the Cardinals, who had won their previous two coming in.

Tyler Lyons gave up a run on four hits and struck out seven while walking one in six innings of action.

"He pitched really, really good," said Holliday about Lyons. "He kept them off balance and pitched really well. We're not scoring many runs for him and it's unfortunate. We didn't give him any support."

With the score tied in the eighth inning, the Braves plated a run to take the lead.

With Randy Choate (0-1) on the mound, Upton punched a one-out single and Freddie Freeman followed with a single to chase Choate from the mound and bring in Pat Neshek.

Johnson greeted Neshek with a single to right for a 2-1 lead, and Craig Kimbrel worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning to lock down his ninth save of the season.

Lyons retired the first 10 batters he faced, but Upton broke that string and got his team on the board with a one-out home run in the fourth to give the Braves a 1-0 lead.

St. Louis had runners on base in each of the first four innings, and finally pushed one across in the sixth.

Matt Carpenter drew a walk to start the inning and Yadier Molina moved him up a base with a groundout. Holliday then punched a single to right to score Carpenter and tie the game.

Game Notes

It was the longest losing streak for Atlanta since the team dropped eight straight from May 21-28, 2012 ... St. Louis pitchers recorded 10 strikeouts to just one walk ... Adam Wainwright takes the mound in the finale on Wednesday for St. Louis, while Mike Minor will pitch for Atlanta.






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