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Braves sweep Cardinals

May 13, 2012 - 11:38 PM St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Jason Heyward hit a three-run double to help the Atlanta Braves complete a three-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals with a 7-4 win at Busch Stadium.

Freddie Freeman doubled twice and knocked in a run for Atlanta, which has won seven of its last nine games.

"Two outs was the story today, two-out base hits," said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez. Atlanta scored all seven of its runs with two outs.

Tommy Hanson (4-3) gave up a solo home run to St. Louis' Carlos Beltran among five hits in five-plus innings. He walked three and recorded a season-high nine strikeouts.

Lance Lynn (6-1) surrendered the Heyward double, one of four hits Atlanta mustered off the St. Louis right-hander. Lynn walked three and struck out seven while throwing 121 pitches over six full frames

"I'd say [Lynn] had to fight pretty hard today," said Cardinals manager Mike Matheny. "I thought he showed a lot by going out there and pitching as deep as he did."

Allen Craig clubbed a three-run homer with two gone in the ninth for the Cardinals, who had won four in a row before this series.

The Braves loaded the bases in the third and Heyward cleared them with his fourth two-bagger of the season. The three runs scored were the most Lynn had allowed in a game this year -- six total in 38 2/3 innings heading into Sunday.

Beltran went deep to lead off the sixth and Hanson was removed after Craig and a returning Lance Berkman followed with back-to-back singles. Berkman was activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to the game after missing nearly a month with a left calf strain.

Chad Durbin relieved Hanson and retired the only batter he faced. Eric O'Flaherty took over on the mound for Atlanta and struck out pinch-hitter Matt Holliday before giving up a single to Tony Cruz that loaded the bases. However, the left-hander struck out pinch-hitter Tyler Greene to preserve the 3-1 lead that grew in the seventh.

Atlanta tacked on three runs against Victor Marte, as Martin Prado slapped an RBI single and Dan Uggla followed Freeman's run-scoring double with one of his own.

Michael Bourn added an RBI single in the eighth for Atlanta.

Game Notes

The Braves were 5-for-20 with runners in scoring position...The last time the Cardinals were swept at home by the Braves was September 11-13, 2009...St. Louis shortstop Rafael Furcal went 3-for-3 with a walk and now has a 12-game hitting streak...To make room for Berkman, the Cardinals optioned outfielder Shane Robinson to Triple-A Memphis.