Freeman's new glasses work just fine, as his home run helps Braves win

ATLANTA -- Freddie Freeman homered and drove in three runs, wearing his new glasses, to help the Atlanta Braves recover after blowing a five-run lead and beat the St. Louis Cardinals 10-7 on Wednesday night.

Freeman, who had missed four straight starts because of vision problems, was elated about receiving his new sports glasses before the game. He broke out of slump with three hits: his eighth homer in the first, a run-scoring double in the third and run-scoring single in the eighth.

The Braves, who snapped an eight-game losing streak on Tuesday night, gave up a 5-0 lead, then scored three runs in the sixth. Brian McCann's two-run single highlighted the rally.

Jonny Venters (3-2) recorded the last out of the sixth. Craig Kimbrel earned his 15th save.

After Freeman's homer, Tim Hudson and other teammates made circles in front of their eyes, pretending to wear glasses, as they welcomed him to the dugout. Freeman said before the game he didn't care if he looked different in glasses.

"I can see and that's all that matters," he said.

The Braves broke a 5-5 tie with three runs on four hits off Mark Rzepczynski (0-3) in the sixth. Jack Wilson's double drove in Jose Constanza, who reached first on his third hit and moved to second on a wild pitch.

Wilson was caught in a run-down between third and home on Michael Bourn's grounder, but he kept the play going long enough for Bourn to advance to second. Following an intentional walk to Martin Prado, McCann drove in Bourn and Prado with a single for an 8-5 lead.

The Cardinals scored two runs off Eric O'Flaherty in the eighth off Shane Robinson's sacrifice fly and Carlos Beltran's infield single.

The Braves added two runs in the eighth off Jason Motte, who set up the inning with walks to Eric Hinske and Bourn. Dan Uggla drove in one with a sac fly and Freeman finished the scoring by knocking in Bourn.

Atlanta led 5-0 before the Cardinals managed their first hit.

McCann hit a two-run homer in the first. One out later, Freeman cleared the center-field wall off Kyle Lohse.

With two outs in the third and Uggla on first base following his single, Freeman hit a high pop fly into the wind, blowing in from left field.

Cardinals left fielder Matt Holliday sprinted toward the infield but couldn't catch up as the wind blew the ball away from the outfield, dropping in shallow left field for a double that scored Uggla.

Constanza added a run-scoring single.

Rafael Furcal led off the fourth with a single for the Cardinals' first hit. Holliday drove in Furcal with a one-out single.

Tyler Green's two-run, bases-loaded single was the big hit in the Cardinals' four-run sixth off Hudson. Holliday and Daniel Descalso also had RBI singles.

Hudson gave up five runs on six hits in 5 2-3 innings.

Lohse allowed five runs on nine hits in five innings.

-- NOTES: Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said RHP Jaime Garcia returned to St. Louis Tuesday for an MRI on his right elbow early Wednesday. Matheny said the MRI was clear, but Garcia's scheduled start Friday at the Mets will be skipped. Matheny said Garcia, who had right elbow ligament-replacement surgery in 2008, said the elbow "just felt different." ... 3B David Freese, who did not start for the third straight game due to a sore right wrist, popped out as a pinch-hitter in the seventh and remained in the game. ... Each team is off on Thursday. The Braves open a three-game series at Washington on Friday with LHP Mike Minor perhaps pitching to save his spot in the rotation. The Cardinals open a four-game series at the Mets on Friday with RHP Adam Wainwright facing Johan Santana.