Cardinals 3 - 2 Braves
Final
  for this game

Westbrook, Beachy square off in Atlanta

Apr 30, 2011 - 2:46 PM

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(Sports Network) - Coming off his best performance of the season, Jake Westbrook will take the mound this afternoon for the Cardinals as they continue a weekend series in Atlanta.

Westbrook allowed just three hits in six scoreless innings of a 3-0 win against Cincinnati on Sunday. He's struggled throughout April over his career, as evidenced by an 8-17 record and 5.01 ERA in 39 games (35 starts). Westbrook is also 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in two outings against the Braves.

Brandon Beachy get another shot at keeping his unbeaten streak alive for the Braves this afternoon. The rookie right-hander hasn't lost in his last three appearances. During that time he's given up seven earned runs in 17 1/3 innings, fanning 22 batters and walking six.

Beachy hasn't pitched well at Turner Field this season. He's 0-1 with a 7.15 ERA in two such games.

On Friday, Nick Punto's triple during the 11th inning scored a pair runs to give St. Louis a 5-3 win. Yadier Molina went 2-for-3 with an RBI while Daniel Descalso drove in two runs for the Cardinals, who have won three straight and seven of the last nine games.

Eduardo Sanchez (1-0) got the win, pitching scoreless ninth and tenth innings. Trever Miller got the save, his first and the Cardinals' fifth pitcher to record a save this season.

"Any win's a good win," said Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter, who allowed three runs in seven innings. "I don't really care how we do it. I'm going to keep going and do my job to the best I can to give my team a chance to win."

Jason Heyward and Nate McLouth each had home runs for the Braves, who had a two-game win streak snapped. Cory Gearrin (0-1) was handed the loss in 1 2/3 innings, surrendering the two runs on Punto's triple.

"It is a tough loss," said Atlanta starter Tim Hudson, who lasted six innings and yielded two runs. "We felt like we had the game in hand for the most part until right at the very end."

St. Louis won six of eight meetings with Atlanta a year ago and split four matchups at Turner Field.






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