Adam Duvall, Joc Pederson lead Braves past Cards

[August 05, 2021]    Adam Duvall hit a two-run homer and Joc Pederson hit a two-run double to drive the visiting Atlanta Braves past the St. Louis Cardinals 7-4 on Wednesday night.

Atlanta Braves right fielder Jorge Soler (12) celebrates with center fielder Guillermo Heredia (38) after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Jorge Soler hit homer run for the second straight game and Dansby Swanson went 4-for-4 and scored three runs for the retooled Braves -- who reacquired Duvall and added Pederson and Soler with in-season trades.

The Braves won back-to-back games for the first time since their three-game winning streak July 7-10. They pulled back to .500 and stayed within two and a half games of the National League East-leading New York Mets.

Meanwhile the Cardinals fell 11 games back of the first-place Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central.

Braves starting pitcher Drew Smyly, who has been battling knee soreness, lasted just four innings for his third consecutive start. He allowed three runs on six hits.

Chris Martin (1-3), the third of five Braves relievers, earned the victory. Will Smith got his 22nd save.

J.A. Happ delivered a solid starting pitching performance in his Cardinals debut. He allowed two runs on five hits in five innings and exited with a 3-2 lead.

Reliever Giovanny Gallegos (5-4) took the loss, allowing three eighth-inning runs.

The Cardinals broke out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Dylan Carlson and Paul Goldschmidt hit singles and Nolan Arenado launched a three-run homer.

The Braves cut the deficit to 3-1 in the fourth. Swanson hit a single, stole second base and scored on Guillermo Heredia's double.

Soler's fifth-inning homer tightened the game further, then the Braves went up 4-3 against Ryan Helsley in the sixth. Swanson hit a single and Duvall followed with his two-run blast.

Matt Carpenter hit a leadoff single in the seventh inning and Tommy Edman was hit by a pitch. They moved up with a double steal and Goldschmidt tied the game with a sacrifice fly.

But the Braves responded in the eighth against Gallegos.

Austin Riley and Swanson hit singles and Heredia drew a one-out walk. Stephen Vogt's sacrifice fly and Pederson's two-run double provided the winning margin.

--Field Level Media

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