ATLANTA (AP) – Paul DeJong hit a two-run homer, Yadier Molina added a two-run single in a four-run eighth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals won their third straight game with an 8-1 victory over the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night.
Austin Gomber pitched five effective innings for St. Louis, which holds a slim lead for the second NL wild card. The Cardinals top the National League with 36 victories since All-Star break, and their 43 road wins this season rank second.
Atlanta’s division lead dropped to 5½ games over Philadelphia as the Braves lost their fourth in a row after a season-best six-game winning streak. They are 38-38 at SunTrust Park and have dropped 14 of 18 at home.
St. Louis Cardinals’ Paul DeJong (12) is congratulated by teammates after his two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Todd Kirkland)
The Braves’ magic number remained at seven as they try to clinch a division title for the first time in five years. Philadelphia beat the New York Mets 5-2.
Anibal Sanchez (6-6) allowed four hits and two runs and struck out six in five innings. He faced the minimum through his first three innings and retired his first batter in the fourth before Jose Martinez singled and DeJong hit his 19th homer.
DeJong, who is hitting .500 with four homers and 10 RBIs in five career games against Atlanta, added a run-scoring single in the eighth off Dan Winkler. DeJong’s homer was his 14th on the road.
Gomber (6-1) gave up six hits, one run and three walks while striking out five for his fifth victory in his last six decisions, but it wasn’t easy for the rookie.
After Ronald Acuna Jr. hit his 26th homer to begin the third, Gomber escaped a bases-loaded jam on Ender Inciarte’s lineout to end the inning. Gomber got Inciarte to fly out to strand a runner at third to end the fifth.
Molina’s single in the eighth off Sam Freeman scored three runs. He was credited with two RBIs, and a third run scored because Acuna made an error in left field.
Tyler O’Neill, who entered as a pinch-runner in the eighth, had a run-scoring double and Marcell Ozuna followed with an RBI single to make it 8-1.
STRONG BULLPEN
John Brebbia and Jordan Hicks faced the minimum in the sixth and seventh, Dominic Leone pitched around a walk in the eighth and Mike Mayers faced five batters in the ninth. The Cardinals improved to 69-6 when leading after seven.
STILL STRUGGLING
After walking 39 in their last five games, the Braves didn’t issue a free pass until the eighth, when Jonny Venters, Winkler and Freeman each walked a batter. Of the 35 runs allowed on this homestand, 15 reached with a walk.
WELCOME SOUTH
St. Louis has won eight straight games in Atlanta dating to 2016, the best run since the Cardinals took 11 road games in a row from the Braves from 1967-68.
UP NEXT
Cardinals: RHP Jack Flaherty (8-7, 2.86 ERA) will make his first career appearance against Atlanta. The 22-year-old rookie pitched six innings, allowing four hits and one run, in losing his last start 3-0 to the Dodgers.
Braves: RHP Touki Toussaint (1-1, 4.67 ERA) gets his fourth career start as he faces St. Louis for the first time. The 22-year-old rookie is 1-1 with a 3.31 ERA as a starter.
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Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuna Jr. rounds third after hitting a home run during the third inning of the team’s baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Todd Kirkland)
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez delivers in the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Todd Kirkland)
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Austin Gomber delivers during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Todd Kirkland)
Atlanta Braves catcher Kurt Suzuki (24) throws to second for the out on St. Louis Cardinals’ Kolten Wong as Austin Gomber bats during the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Todd Kirkland)
St. Louis Cardinals Kolten Wong is hit by a pitch during the third inning of the team’s baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Todd Kirkland)
Atlanta Braves shortstop Charlie Culberson tags out St. Louis Cardinals’ Kolten Wong on an attempted stolen base during the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Todd Kirkland)
St. Louis Cardinals’ Paul DeJong (12) celebrates a two-run home run with teammates in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Todd Kirkland)
St. Louis Cardinals Kolten Wong is tagged out at home by Atlanta Braves catcher Kurt Suzuki (24) during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Todd Kirkland)
St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong (12) throws to first after the force out of Atlanta Braves Freddie Freeman (5) during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018, in Atlanta. Nick Markakis was safe at first. (AP Photo/Todd Kirkland)
St. Louis Cardinals Matt Carpenter (13) reacts after striking out during the fifth inning of the team’s baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Todd Kirkland)
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