Football
SportsTicker 19y

Hudson, Mulder struggle as Cardinals edge Braves

ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Braves finally got a taste of
what they have been expecting from Raul Mondesi.

Mondesi's leadoff homer in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted
the Atlanta Braves to a 3-2 triumph over the red-hot St. Louis
Cardinals.

After a troubled year with Pittsburgh and Anaheim in 2004,
Mondesi signed a one-year contract in January with the Braves,
who were hoping to replace J.D. Drew's offensive production.
But Mondesi has not lived up to expectations, entering with a
.205 average and 10 RBIs in 21 games.

Mired in a 1-for-18 slump, Mondesi deposited Jimmy Journell's
1-0 offering into the left field bleachers for his third homer
of the season and the fifth game-winning blast of his 13-year
career.

Mondesi's homer accounted for the first run allowed by St.
Louis' bullpen in the ninth inning this year.

The Cardinals, who had won their previous six road games, wasted
a strong outing by starter Matt Morris. The veteran
righthander, who lowered his ERA to 2.12, worked six solid
innings, allowing one run, four hits and only one walk with
eight strikeouts.

Atlanta tied the game at 2-2 in the seventh against lefthander
Randy Flores, who walked pinch hitter Chipper Jones with bases
loaded and none out. Jones, who has been sidelined with a
bruised left foot, appeared to get hit with a pitch earlier in
the at-bat.

Flores settled down to retire the next three batters, avoiding
further damage.

Atlanta closer Danny Kolb (1-2) struck out one in a perfect
ninth to record the win.

Braves starter John Thomson allowed two runs - one earned - and
eight hits in six frames. The righthander worked out of trouble
throughout as the Cardinals stranded runners in scoring
position in four of his six innings.

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