Minor major boost to Braves in victory
atlanta » Mike Minor pitched six strong innings, Jason Heyward had a two-run single, and the Braves flashed some nifty plays in the field, holding off the Dodgers 4-3 on Friday night to even the NL division series at one game apiece.
The Braves turned three double plays — none more crucial than the one Luis Avilan started in the seventh to escape the inning with a 2-1 lead intact. Heyward came through in the bottom half with a two-run single. Good thing for the Braves, too. Hanley Ramirez drove in all three runs for the Dodgers, including a two-run homer in the eighth. He cleared the wall down the left-field line with aone-handed swing offDavid Carpenter.
Not taking any chances, the Braves went to closer Craig Kimbrel for a rare four-out save. He ended the eighth by retiring JuanUribe on a groundout, then pitched around twowalks in the ninth — again getting a hand from the defense.
Pinch-runner Dee Gordon tried to steal second, but catcher Gerald Laird unleashed a strong throw that Andrelton Simmons scooped on the short hop while making the tag in one motion, all while blocking Gordon’s left hand from bag with his knee.
Pirates 7, Cardinals 1
st. louis » Hard-throwing rookie Gerrit Cole gave up two hits in six dominant innings and also had an RBI in his postsea- son debut, Pedro Alvarez homered for the second straight day and Pittsburgh evened the series at one game apiece.
Cole faced the Cardinals for the first time and left most of them shaking their heads, striking out five andwalking one. After allowing Carlos Beltran’s double with one out in the first, the 22-year-old retired 11 straight before YadierMolina led off the fifth with his third career postseason homer.
When he got in the least bit of trouble, Cole ignored chants from a second straight sellout crowd at Busch Stadium.
“You just have to take a deep breath,” Cole said. “Rip off the rear-view mirror on the car.”