Cards rip Braves as Wong leads HR parade

[September 18, 2018]    Kolten Wong had three hits, including one of the team's four homers, to help the visiting St. Louis Cardinals keep their playoff hopes alive with an 11-6 win over the Atlanta Braves on Monday.

Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas (39) throws against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at SunTrust Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Wong had a single, a double, his ninth homer and three RBIs. Paul DeJong, Harrison Bader and Yadier Molina also hit homers for the Cardinals.

The winning pitcher was Miles Mikolas (16-4), who allowed two runs on four hits in five innings. Mikolas struck out six and won his third straight decision. In three starts in September, Mikolas is 3-0 with a 3.38 ERA.

The losing pitcher was Mike Foltynewicz (11-10), who was chased after 4 2/3 innings. The right-hander allowed six runs, matching his season high, on five hits and four walks.

The win was the second straight for St. Louis (83-68) and keeps the Cardinals tied for the National League's second wild-card spot.

Despite suffering its third straight loss, Atlanta (83-67) cut its magic number to seven after the Philadelphia Phillies lost.

The Cardinals led 3-0 after the first inning, the first run coming when Molina was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. The other two runs came on Wong's two-run double.

The Braves cut the lead to 3-2 in the third on Freddie Freeman's two-run homer, his 22nd.

St. Louis added a run in the fourth on Wong's homer and two more in the fifth on a two-run shot by DeJong, his 18th.

Atlanta got back in the game with two runs in the sixth. With runners on second and third, Tyler Flowers hit a sacrifice fly that scored Johan Camargo. But center fielder Yairo Munoz threw wildly to third in an attempt to get Ender Inciarte, who scored easily when the ball got away.

The Braves added another run in the seventh when Nick Markakis delivered his 42nd double.

The Cardinals stretched their lead to 9-5 when Bader hit a long three-run homer, his 11th.

Atlanta scored a run in the eighth on a single by Ronald Acuna Jr. But the Braves left the bases loaded when first baseman Freeman struck out to end the rally.

St. Louis closed out the scoring in the ninth when Molina hit a two-run homer, his 18th.

--Field Level Media

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