Markakis grand slam highlights Braves’ win
ST. LOUIS — Nick Markakis hit a grand slam, and Max Fried took a shutout into the seventh inning as the Atlanta Braves beat the St. Louis Cardinals 11-4 Saturday night.
The Braves have won the first two games of the threegame series with the Cardinals, who have dropped three in a row.
Fried (1-2) stymied the Cardinals on 101 pitches before being pulled with two outs in the seventh. Recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to start the game, he struck out 11, allowed four singles and walked three.
Cardinals starter Luke Weaver (4-7) went 4 2/3 innings, giving up 10 runs on eight hits, walking two and striking out five. Weaver gave up two homers — to Markakis in his final inning and a two-run shot to Ronald Acuna Jr. in the second.
The Braves sent 11 players to the plate in their six-run fifth. After Ozzie Albies doubled in Fried, the Cardinals intentionally walked Freddie Freeman to face Markakis. The right fielder hit his ninth homer of the season and fourth career grand slam off a 3-2 pitch. He hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth to bring in Albies, finishing with five RBIs.
Albies went 3-for-5 and has a 10-game hitting streak; he is batting .467 (21-for-47) during that span.
The Cardinals scored all of their runs in the ninth inning and off Matt Wisler, including a leadoff home run from Jose Martinez.
To make room for Fried, the Braves designated outfielder Peter Bourjos for assignment. Bourjos, in his first year with the Braves, was batting .205 in 36 games. He also played for St. Louis in 2014 and 2015.
Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina played in his 1,800th MLB game, joining Hall of Famers Stan Musial, Lou Brock, Ozzie Smith and Enos Slaughter as Cardinals to play in at least that many. Molina entered the majors in 2004 and has spent his entire career with St. Louis. He ranks 12th among active players in games played.
On the injury front, Braves closer Arodys Vizcaino (shoulder inflammation) is expected to come off the 10-day disabled list on Monday. The right-hander threw a side session Saturday and is on target for his return to the team.
Atlanta catcher Tyler Flowers, who left Friday’s game with a right hamstring cramp after flying out to end the sixth inning, didn’t start Saturday. The Braves said it was part of the regular rotation between Flowers and Kurt Suzuki behind the plate. The two have alternated starts for the past 16 games.
In today’s series finale, the Braves will start right-hander Mike Foltynewicz (5-4, 2.14), who is going for his first win in a month. After tossing a 4-0 shutout against the Washington Nationals on June 1, he went 0-1 in his final three starts of the month. He failed to get past the fifth in any his final three June outings.