The Cardinals could not sweep Atlanta losing last night 9-4. Albert Pujols got to Braves start Mike Hampton in the first with a two run double, but Cardinal starter Joel Pineiro was ineffective giving up six runs in six innings to take the loss.
Braves catcher Clint Salmons, filling in for injured Brian McCann haunted Pineiro all night long, going 3 for 4 with a home run in the 6th which erased a Cardinal lead and cost Pineiro the chance at a win.
Atlanta tacked on three more runs off reliever Kelvin Jimenez for insurance, keeping the Cardinals from taking sole possession of the NL Wild Card.
The Cardinals remain tied with Milwaukee who got swept by Chicago. Now, St. Louis starts a three game series with former Missouri State Bear Ryan Howard and the first place Phillies coming to Busch Stadium. The Phillies have won five in a row.
There has been a lot of talk about the wildcard coming out of the Central, but that race is starting to tighten up. The Mets are just a game and a half behind the Cards, the Marlins two back.
