Lackey works four, gives up three in final postseason tuneup
ATLANTA -- Shelby Miller ended his 24-start winless streak, holding his former Cardinals teammates to three hits through eight innings and leading the Atlanta Braves over St. Louis 6-0 in Sunday's doubleheader opener.
Miller (6-17) struck out seven and walked three. He had been 0-16 since winning at Miami on May 17 despite a 3.83 ERA in that span.
Miller's winless streak was the longest in the majors since Chris Volstad's 24-game streak from July 17, 2011 to Aug. 19, 2012. It was the longest streak by a Braves starting pitcher since the team moved to Atlanta in 1966.
Miller was acquired from the Cardinals in the December deal that sent outfielder Jason Heyward to St. Louis.
Despite his lack of wins, Miller was the Braves' best starting pitcher for most of the season but had a 7.11 ERA in five September starts. Even so, he still entered Sunday's game with a 3.15 ERA that ranked 12th in the NL. He topped 200 innings for the first time.
Adonis Garcia hit two homers and Andrelton Simmons added a two-run drive. Atlanta has 100 homers this season, fewest in the majors.
St. Louis, which won its third straight NL Central title, open sthe Division Series at home Friday against the Chicago Cubs or Pittsburgh.
John Lackey (13-10) allowed three runs over four innings in a postseason tuneup.
St. Louis started its normal lineup, but manager Mike Matheny replaced four starters by the sixth inning.
Adam Wainwright pitched a scoreless eighth inning, giving up a walk. Matheny said before the game he wanted to use Wainwright in the opener because rain was forecast for the second game. Rain began to fall in the ninth inning.
Despite the loss, the Cardinals (100-61) have their first 100-win season since 2005, when they finished 100-62. They won 105 games in 2004.REMEMBERING 1990
The Braves will finish with fewer than 70 wins in a full season for the first time since 1990, when they were 65-97. They were 68-46 in the strike-shortened 1994 season.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Cardinals: RF Stephen Piscotty was 0 for 4 in his return to the lineup six days after he sustained a concussion in an outfield collision with teammate Peter Bourjos.
ON DECK
RHP Lance Lynn (12-10) was to start the second game of the doubleheader against Braves rookie RHP Matt Wisler (7-8).
