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Cardinals 4, Braves 1

By The Associated Press
Posted 10:40AM on Friday 13th August 2004 ( 20 years ago )
<p>Woody Williams won his sixth straight decision, Albert Pujols and Larry Walker homered, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Atlanta Braves 4-1 Friday night in the series opener between division leaders.</p><p>Williams (9-6) allowed only three hits and one run in seven innings as St. Louis stretched its NL Central lead over the Chicago Cubs to 13 1/2 games. He has six wins and five no-decisions since his last loss June 8 at Chicago against the Cubs.</p><p>Williams allowed just one baserunner to advance past second base _ Chipper Jones' leadoff homer in the seventh inning. Williams walked two batters but otherwise consistently stayed ahead in the count, throwing first-pitch strikes to 23 of the 25 batters he faced.</p><p>Julian Tavarez retired the Braves in order in the eighth, and Jason Isringhausen threw a perfect ninth for his 32nd save in 37 chances.</p><p>The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the first when Scott Rolen drew a leadoff walk from Paul Byrd (4-4), moved to third on Jim Edmonds' single and scored on Edgar Renteria's sacrifice fly.</p><p>Pujols opened the sixth with his 33rd homer, a 398-foot drive to left-center.</p><p>Walker knocked Byrd out of the game with a two-run homer to left with two outs in the seventh, making it 4-0. His eighth homer overall was his second in six games with the Cardinals. Walker just missed homering when he sent a ball foul to deep right before he hit the drive over the left-field wall.</p><p>Byrd (4-4) gave up seven hits and four runs in 6 2-3 innings.</p><p>The Cardinals have baseball's best road record at 39-18 and the biggest advantage of any division leader. Entering the game, the Braves had matched the Cardinals for the best record (20-6) since the All-Star break.</p><p>Byrd was making his 10th start of the season and his first against the Cardinals in his return from reconstructive elbow surgery on July 1, 2003.</p><p>Notes:@ Walker stole two bases, giving him three steals in six games with the Cardinals. He had three stolen bases in 43 games with Colorado before he was traded to St. Louis. ... Byrd has given up at least one homer in five straight starts. ... With his next win, Williams will give the Cardinals five pitchers with 10 or more victories.</p>

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