The Braves collected nine hits in the game, but they could do nothing with that other than Justin Upton's two-run homer in the fifth inning. It was Upton's 24th of the season in his first game after sitting out the past few with a sore back. Brian McCann, Andrelton Simmons and new Brave Elliot Johnson each had two hits apiece to lead Atlanta. Freddie Freeman and Paul Maholm also added a hit each in the loss.
Maholm, who was making his first start after coming of the disabled list earlier in the day, impressed early on but then fell back to his old ways by the fifth inning. He only lasted five and a third innings and gave up five runs, four earned, on five hits as his record fell to 9-10 on the year. Luis Ayala and Scott Downs combined to pitch out of the sixth inning jam that Maholm started. Anthony Varvaro came in for some mop up duty and pitched the final two innings and gave up another Cardinals' run on four hits.
The Braves are now 77-50 after losing to St. Louis for the first time in 2013. They will continue their series with the Cardinals tomorrow night at 8:15 p.m. Kris Medlen (10-11) will take the ball for the Braves against former Braves' prospect Adam Wainwright (14-7). Also, Jason Heyward will now be out for the next four to six weeks after having surgery to repair his broken jaw. The injury is a big blow to the Braves as they had finally found a good lead-off hitter in Heyward and now they will be without one again until Heyward returns or someone else steps up and contributes. Brandon Beachy will miss his start on Sunday as he has his elbow looked at, which felt sore after his last outing against the New York Mets on Tuesday. If the Braves lose Beachy, it would be yet another blow on the injury front and to the rotation.
Justin Upton hits a two-run homer in the fifth inning and provided the Braves their only offense of the night in the 6-2 loss to St. Louis.
Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press
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