Jones, Moss lead Braves to extra-inning win

ST. LOUIS - No worries for Damian Moss, even though he didn't get a chance to finish his no-hit bid.

The Atlanta Braves rookie from Australia was pulled for a pinch-hitter after seven innings and 116 pitches Friday night.

``I knew about the no-hitter, but that was the last thing on my mind,'' Moss said. ``Obviously, I was getting there and the bullpen's been great all year, so that's a wise choice to make.''

St. Louis got its first hit on Fernando Vina's one-out single in the eighth off reliever Mike Remlinger. Chipper Jones hit a two-run homer in the 11th, and the Braves beat the Cardinals 2-1.

Moss, making his sixth career start, was wild in his longest outing in the majors. He walked seven including two in the seventh inning and bounced a handful of deliveries to the plate.

Moss had only two 1-2-3 innings, and was helped by a double play in his final inning. At that point, Braves manager Bobby Cox decided Moss had pitched enough.

``I wanted to see him throw a no-hitter worse than you guys,'' Cox said. ``But he had so many pitches he wasn't going to make nine anyway, and he was tired, he was done.

``I think he'd rather have a good arm next year rather than a no-hitter.''

Pinch-hitter Keith Lockhart, who was in the on-deck circle when the last out of the seventh was made, grounded out batting for Moss leading off the eighth.

After being taken out, Moss stayed in the dugout, talking to Tom Glavine. Moss looked unfazed, casually carrying on a conversation with the Braves ace.

Vina broke up the no-hit bid with a single off Remlinger's glove.

Cardinals starter Matt Morris was almost as good as Moss, giving up three hits in eight scoreless innings.

``I was trying to battle every at-bat,'' Morris said. ``Their guy was just as good. It was one of them games.''

Jones hit his fifth homer on a 3-0 pitch from Gene Stechschulte (2-1).

``I had a big hole between short and third I was looking at,'' Jones said. ``But I saw it good out of his hand and got a good swing at it.''

Stechschulte was supposed to issue an unintentional, intentional walk. His first three pitches sailed outside, but the fourth was on the outside corner.

``I was supposed to walk him,'' Stechschulte said. ``I didn't walk him. He swung.''

Rafael Furcal drew a one-out walk, stole second and went to third on a groundout by Mark De Rosa in the 11th before Jones homered over the center-field wall.

Chris Hammond (1-1) worked a perfect 10th for his first win in the majors since 1997 with Boston.

John Smoltz, the Braves' fifth pitcher, gave up Mike Matheny's RBI single with two outs before finishing for his 10th save in 11 chances.

After Matheny singled, Smoltz retired Eli Marrero with two runners on base to end it.

Marrero is in an 0-for-26 slump. He grounded out with the bases loaded to end the ninth, after Cox elected to intentionally walk Jim Edmonds with runners on first and second and two outs.

The Cardinals finished with three hits and lost for the 10th time in 14 games.

NOTES: Moss, who does not have a decision, has held opponents to a .150 batting average. ... Gary Sheffield ended an 0-for-29 slump that had dropped his average to .200 when he singled in the Atlanta fourth. ... Morris faced the Braves for the first time since Aug. 26, 2000, a relief appearance. ... Marrero was 11-for-15 to start the year. ... The Braves' last no-hitter was by Kent Mercker on April 8, 1994, at Los Angeles.