Austin Riley homered and drove in three runs, Ian Anderson allowed a run to rally as a starter and the Atlanta Braves beat the troubled St. Louis Cardinals 7-1 Tuesday night.
Riley hit a two-run homer, his 21st of the year, and William Contreras also homered in the first inning as Atlanta led 5-0.
Matt Olson drove in two runs on two hits, including a single in the first inning after Ronald Acuña Jr. singled and stole second.
Anderson (7-5) allowed eight hits, walked one and struck out three in five innings. He escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fifth inning on an inning-ending groundout by Dylan Carlson.
Anderson had allowed a combined 11 earned runs in consecutive losses.
The Cardinals have lost three straight and five of their last six. They started the night three games behind Milwaukee, leaders of the National League Central Division.
The defeat went to Andre Pallante (2-4).
For the Cardinals, the Venezuelan Juan Yépez 5-1. Panamanian Edmundo Sosa 1-0.
For the Braves, Venezuelans Acuña Jr. 5-1 with a run scored, William Contreras 3-1 with a run scored and two RBIs. The Dominican Marcell Ozuna 4-1. Puerto Rican Eddie Rosario 4-1.
