Jarred Kelenic went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer and RBI single to drive the visiting Atlanta Braves past the St. Louis Cardinals 6-2 in the first half of a split doubleheader Wednesday.

Zack Short reached base three times and drove in two runs for the Braves, who have won nine of their last 12 games.

Braves starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez (6-2) allowed two runs on four hits and four walks in five innings. He struck out five.

Cardinals starting pitcher Kyle Gibson (5-3) needed 87 pitches to get 12 outs. He allowed four runs on four hits and a season-high five walks in four innings.

Both starting pitchers struggled with their command in the second inning.

Gibson walked Matt Olson, allowed Austin Riley’s single, then walked Sean Murphy to load the bases. After Ramon Laureano grounded into a run-scoring forceout, Forrest Wall walked to reload the bases. Short hit a two-run single, then Kelenic followed with an RBI single to give Atlanta a 4-0 lead.

The Cardinals got one run back in the bottom of the inning. Paul Goldschmidt doubled, Brendan Donovan walked, Nolan Gorman walked with one out to load the bases, and Matt Carpenter hit a sacrifice fly.

Gibson narrowly escaped further trouble in the fourth inning. With two outs, he walked Short, allowed another Kelenic single and walked Ozzie Albies before striking out Marcell Ozuna.

St. Louis cut Atlanta’s lead to 4-2 in the fifth inning.

Carpenter singled and moved to third on Michael Siani’s double into the left-field corner. After Masyn Winn walked to load the bases, Alec Burleson hit a sacrifice fly. Goldschmidt walked with two outs to reload the bases, but Donovan flied out to end the threat.

Kelenic’s two-run homer in the sixth inning increased the Braves’ margin to 6-2.

–Field Level Media