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Cardinals complete sweep of Braves

Sep 12, 2011 - 12:35 AM St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Yadier Molina's three-run double highlighted a five-run third inning, as the Cardinals completed a three-game sweep of the Braves with a 6-3 victory.

Jake Westbrook (12-8) allowed two runs over 5 1/3 innings to earn the win. He walked one and struck out four.

Jon Jay went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and Albert Pujols added an RBI for the Cardinals, who moved within 4 1/2 games of Atlanta in the NL wild card race. They remain six games behind the NL Central-leading Brewers, who beat the Phillies, 3-2, on Sunday.

Tim Hudson (14-10) gave up six runs on eight hits over six innings to suffer the loss.

Chipper Jones hit a home run for the Braves, who have lost three straight and eight of their last 11 games.

Westbrook was perfect through two innings before allowing a one-out single to Jason Heyward in the top of the third. He stranded Heyward at second and the Cardinals, who have won five straight games, took a decisive lead a half- inning later.

Hudson hit Daniel Descalso and Jay before Pujols' RBI single. Walks to Matt Holliday and Lance Berkman loaded the bases, then pushed across another run. Molina followed with a bases-clearing double for a 5-0 Cardinals lead.

"The bases-loaded walk really hurt and obviously the bases-clearing double," said Hudson. "It was a back breaker."

The Braves threatened in the top of the fourth, loading the bases with one down, but Westbrook struck out Eric Hinske and flew out David Ross to escape unscathed.

Jay doubled to begin the home fifth and Holliday singled two batters later, extending the Cardinals' advantage.

Westbrook was pulled after allowing a Freddie Freeman RBI single in the sixth. Matt Diaz made it a 6-2 game with a sac fly off of Arthur Rhodes.

Octavio Dotel tossed a scoreless seventh before Kyle McClellan allowed Jones' solo homer in the eighth.

Jason Motte struck out the side in the ninth to record his fifth save.

"You try to get ahead of guys," said Motte. "Luckily I was able to get the first two guys on strikeouts and then Heyward fell behind and I was able to come back and throw some strikes, make some good pitches and get him out."

Game Notes

The Cardinals won the season series 5-1...The Braves stranded five and went 1- for-5 with runners in scoring position.