Atlanta Braves Fall To Cards Late

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Apr 10, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Hector Olivera (28) hits a RBI sacrifice fly against the St. Louis Cardinals during the fifth inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

The Middle Three

Hector Olivera opened the bottom of the fourth with a double. After a walk to Tyler Flowers, Jace Peterson hit a deep fly to left and Olivera advanced to third after the catch.

Drew Stubbs followed with a three run homer to dead center to knot the game up at four a piece.

After soft fly to center by Matt Carpenter and Jeremy Hazelbaker single, Steve Piscotty hit a soft fly to center for the second out. Obviously trying to prevent a Cardinal explosion, Fredi Gonzalez went to his bullpen and brought in
Eric O’Flaherty to pitch to Brandon Moss. One pitch later the inning was over and the game still tied.

In the bottom of the fifth Markakis hit his second double of the game leading off and Freeman hit a deep fly to center allowing Markakis to move up to third. Wainwright walked Adonis Garcia to pitch to Hector Olivera but the big Cuban made him pay when he hit a fly to the warning track in left scoring Markakis and giving the Braves the lead.

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Flowers singled and Garcia moved to third but Wainwright struck out Jace Peterson to end the inning.

The Cardinals sent up Randal Grichuk to pinch hit for Adams and the Braves brought in newly promoted Chris Withrow to replace EOF. Withrow immediately walked Grichuk on four pitches and stole second with Yadier Molina at the plate. Molina hit a soft fly softly to right but not deep enough to advance the runner but Kolten Wong did with a soft grounder to second for the second out. It seemed like Withrow might escape but Greg Garcia doubled when a sharply hit ball went under the glove of a surprised Adonis Garcia at third scoring Grichuk and tying the game.

Withrow walked Jedd Gyorko and hit Carpenter with a pitch and Fredi Gonzalez made a double switch bringing Daniel Winkler in to replace Withrow and Gordon Beckham in to play second. Winkler went to a 3-2 count on Hazelbaker before blowing one by him to strike him out and end the inning.

The Braves came back again in the bottom half when Beckham got his first hit of the year, a one out double off the left field wall. The Cardinals brought in lefty Kevin Siegrist who struck out Aybar before Markakis hit his third double of the game scoring Beckham. Freeman walked and Adonis Garcia swung at a pitch cap bill high then watched two fastballs split the plate without taking the bat from his shoulder to strike out and end the inning.

Next: Winkler Injured

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