Minor Tosses A Gem, Braves Defeat Cards 4-1

The Braves needed a lift.  After a rough road trip to start the second half of the season that saw them lose 4 out of 7 and 2 of their starting pitchers the Braves were looking for something positive to happen.  Mike Minor to the rescue!  Minor pitched 7 strong innings out dueling Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright as the Braves took the first game of the series over the team with the NL’s best record.  Minor only allowed 4 hits and 1 earned over his 7 innings against the highest scoring offense in the National League.  He also struck out 5 and didn’t walk a batter.

The Braves offense found some rare success against Wainwright.  They opened up their scoring in the 2nd with three consecutive hits by McCann, Chris Johnson and Uggla to tie the game at 1-1.  A 2 out single by Minor also in the 2nd gave the Braves a lead they would never relinquish.  Jason Heyward added an opposite field solo homer in the 5th and the Braves scored their final run on a Cards error in the 7th.  Freddie Freeman had a rare off night going 0-4 with 4 Ks.

Jordan Walden and Craig Kimbrel helped Minor secure the win by handling the Cards in the 8th and 9th.  Kimbrel struck out 2 and earned his 29th save of the season.