Braves knock off Cardinals

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Greg Maddux gave up his first earned runs of the spring but the Atlanta Braves got home runs from Andruw Jones and Bo Porter to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-3 Sunday.

Maddux gave up three earned runs and seven hits in four innings before leaving one inning earlier than scheduled. Maddux twice fouled pitches off his foot during an at-bat in the bottom of the third, which he said affected him when he took the mound in the fourth.

Maddux said he felt some pain pushing off the rubber, so he decided not to pitch the fifth and risk any further irritation. He gave up two runs in the fourth, but said the injury does not appear to be serious.

"It's spring training," Maddux said. "Better safe than sorry. Had it been a game that mattered, I'm sure I would have stayed in. I wasn't getting the extension (off the rubber) I was getting the first three innings."

Maddux had not given up a run in nine innings. That changed in the top of the second when Albert Pujols put St. Louis up 1-0 with a leadoff home run. Maddux retired the next three batters in order but had to work out of trouble in the third.

Pujols has six home runs and 22 RBIs this spring

In the fourth, Maddux gave up a two-out single to Orlando Palmiero, and Mike Matheny and Matt Morris followed with consecutive doubles to put the Cardinals ahead 3-0.

Morris retired the first nine Atlanta batters, but the Braves broke through the second time around the lineup. Mark DeRosa led off the fourth with a single and scored on a line-drive home run by Jones.

The Braves went ahead for good an inning later on Julio Franco's RBI grounder and DeRosa's RBI single.

Morris gave up four earned runs and seven hits in six innings.

Rick Ankiel pitched a scoreless inning for the Cardinals, fanning two and walking two.