The Atlanta Braves pounded out 12 hits, scoring 10 runs, as they blasted the St. Louis Cardinals 10-1 Thursday night at Turner Field in Atlanta.
Andruw Jones got things started for the Braves with his 19 th home run, a 2-run shot in the 1 st inning. The Braves then picked up 1 run in the 2 nd , 2 in the 3 rd , then exploded for 5 runs in the 4 th inning – one of them coming on a Matt Diaz homer, his 5 th roundtripper of the season. The Redbirds picked up their only run of the night when David Eckstein’s hit drove in Gary Bennett in the 6 th inning.
Tim Hudson (10-5) gave up 1 earned run on 5 hits in 7 innings to earn the victory. Mike Maroth (5-5) gave up all 10 runs scored – all earned – on 11 hits to take the loss.
The Cardinals (43-49) and Braves (51-45) go at it again Friday night at Turner Field. Adam Wainwright (8-7) pitches for St. Louis against Atlanta’s Chuck James (8-7).