ST. LOUIS — Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said he had been looking forward to playing the defending World Series champion Atlanta Braves this weekend here to see how his team stacked up against one of the clubs the Cardinals could be playing in October.
Friday's one-sided loss didn't offer much encouragement but, with the help of some wildness from Braves closer Kenley Jansen, the Cardinals rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth to overcome the Braves, 6-5, Saturday night at Busch Stadium before a sellout crowd of 46,119.
Atlanta had beaten the Cardinals four times in five meetings this season.
