ATLANTA — Rookie Aledmys Diaz got his first career homer to break a tie as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning, helping the St. Louis Cardinals rally from a four-run deficit to beat the Atlanta Braves 7-4 Friday night.
The Cardinals hit four homers, including three by pinch-hitters, while getting their first win.
Rookie Jeremy Hazelbaker got a pinch-hit homer off Matt Wisler in the seventh to tie the game at 4. Greg Garcia had another pinch-hit homer in the ninth before Stephen Piscotty’s first homer added to the lead.
St. Louis, swept in its opening three-game series at Pittsburgh, avoided its first 0-4 start since 1997.
Kevin Siegrist (1-0) threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings before Trevor Rosenthal pitched a perfect ninth for the save.
The homer by Diaz into the left field seats came on the second pitch from left-hander Eric O’Flaherty (0-2).