Redbirds overcome rain, Braves

~ St. Louis had to wait out a nearly 3-hour rain delay in a 6-3 victory.

ATLANTA -- Juan Encarnacion hit a two-run homer and the Cardinals ended a seven-game road skid, beating Atlanta 6-3 Tuesday night in a game delayed almost 3 hours by rain and lightning.

The last time the Cardinals had such a long road losing streak, they ended an eight-game skid with a win on July 4, 2001.

Play was halted with one out in the top of the sixth inning and the Cardinals leading 5-2. Fans were told minutes before play resumed that the scheduled postgame fireworks had been postponed until after Wednesday night's game.

The announcement drew loud boos from the estimated 10,000 fans who waited through a rain delay of 2 hours, 52 minutes in the top of the sixth inning. Paid attendance was 47,514, a sellout.

Braves spokesman Brad Hainje said the team's permit for fireworks expired at midnight and the team was unable to obtain a new permit.

With the Reds' 5-2 loss to Milwaukee on Tuesday, the Cardinals increased their lead to two games.

The Cardinals won on the road for the first time since June 15 at Pittsburgh. They had lost 10 of 12 road games, their worst stretch since losing 10 of 11 from Aug. 18-30, 1999.

The Braves' Edgar Renteria was tagged out by Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols after being caught off base in the second inning Tuesday in Atlanta. (Associated Press)

Overall, the Cardinals had lost 11 of 13 before winning the second game of the three-game series.

Chris Carpenter (7-4) earn his first win in four career starts against the Braves. The Braves had been the only team Carpenter had faced and not beaten. He gave up a homer to leadoff batter Marcus Giles in the first inning. The only other run he allowed came in the second inning, when Jeff Francoeur managed to score from second as Adam LaRoche became involved in a run-down play between first and second on Ryan Langerhans' grounder to second.

Carpenter gave up four hits and two runs in five innings. He walked one batter, had two strikeouts and did not return after the long rain delay.

Jason Isringhausen recorded the final four outs for his 25th save in 31 opportunities.

Braves starter John Thomson (2-7) returned from the disabled list. Though recovered from the blister on his right middle finger that caused him to be placed on the DL on June 15, he gave up seven hits and five runs in only 3 2-3 innings. He walked three batters and had one strikeout.

The Cardinals loaded the bases in the first inning on walks to David Eckstein and Albert Pujols and a single by Chris Duncan before Thomson recorded an out. Scott Rolen hit into a double-play grounder scoring a run, and Jim Edmonds followed with his first of two doubles in the game.

Yadier Molina led off the second with a double and scored on Aaron Miles' single for a 3-1 lead. Encarnacion's 11th homer in the third inning drove in Edmonds for a 5-2 lead.

Following the delay, a sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter John Rodriguez drove in Yadier Molina, who reached on a double.

Adam Wainwright pitched two scoreless innings for St. Louis following the rain delay. Braden Looper gave up three straight singles in the eighth, including Andruw Jones' hit up the middle that drove in Edgar Renteria.

Notes: The Braves' streak of 22 innings without issuing a walk ended when Thomson walked Eckstein to lead off the first inning. ... Encarnacion hit his first homer since June 17.