Jaime Garcia allowed three hits in eight innings, struck out 11 and drove in the game's only run Friday night to lead the Cardinals to a 1-0 win over Atlanta at Busch Stadium.
The Cardinals had two hits and none after the second inning. Stephen Piscotty singled in the first before Garcia's single in the second.
Seung Hwan Oh pitched the ninth inning for his ninth save after Garcia was removed despite throwing only 89 pitches.
Garcia's single in the second inning produced the one run after Matt Holliday and Jeremy Hazelbaker had walked against Atlanta starter Joel De La Cruz.