St. Louis Cardinals David Freese gives the crowd a curtain call after hitting a three run home run in the seventh inning. UPI/Bill Greenblatt
David Freese’s three run homer with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning turned a 4-3 deficit into a two run lead and eventual 6-5 win as the Cardinals closed the gap to 1.5 games over the Atlanta Braves who lost to Florida 4-0.
Freese drove in five runs and added a triple earlier in the game for the Cardinals who have won 12 of their last 14. “That was a good feeling,” Freese said. “Obviously, the biggest hit of my career and getting that win is huge.”
Jaime Garcia (13-7), making his 30th start, pitched around four unearned runs in 7 2/3 innings. He gave up six hits and struck out five. Jason Motte got four outs for his eighth save in 12 opportunities but allowed a solo home run to Willie Harris in the ninth.
Albert Pujols went 2 for 4 with two runs scored to extend his hitting streak to six games and bump his average to .305. Pujols has now reached base safely in 37 straight games. He is hitting .500 during his six-game streak (13-for-26).
