Jaime Garcia carried the Cardinals through the first seven innings at Busch Stadium on Friday night as they attempt to hold on against the team with the worst record in baseball.
He drove in the game's only run with a second-inning single and has 10 strikeouts after seven. Garcia entered the eighth inning having thrown 75 pitches and allowed three hits.
The Cardinals have just two hits against three Atlanta pitchers. They have drawn seven walks, one of which turned into the run when Garcia singled in the second.
The Cards loaded the bases on three walks in the sixth but the threat ended when Jedd Gyorko's fly ball was caught by left fielder Jeff Francoeur, who threw out Brandon Moss attempting to tag up and score.