Smoltz ends winless streak against Cards

ATLANTA -- John Smoltz won for the first time in eight starts, and the Atlanta Braves hit four home runs in a 6-3 victory over the struggling St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night.

Smoltz (5-5) and Cardinals rookie Anthony Reyes (1-3) both returned following a 55-minute rain delay in the bottom of the third.

A steady drizzle began falling before the Braves batted in the third, and Marcus Giles and Edgar Renteria hit back-to-back homers before play was suspended.

When play resumed, Reyes gave up Brian McCann's sixth homer, a two-run shot to right-center that put Atlanta ahead 4-3. Jeff Francoeur, who followed with a double, scored on Scott Thorman's RBI single to make it 5-3.

Smoltz allowed seven hits and three runs in six innings. After Albert Pujols hit his 28th homer -- a solo shot that gave St. Louis a 3-0 lead in the third -- Smoltz retired 11 of the last 14 batters.

-- AP