NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Ozzie Smith Saves Day as Cardinals Top Braves

ST. LOUIS â€”  Ozzie Smith sent the game into extra innings, and then he gave the St. Louis Cardinals another comeback victory.

Smith’s two-run infield single in the seventh to tied the game, and his bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the 11th was the game-winner Monday night as the Cardinals beat the Atlanta Braves 4-3.

“Everyone has a job to do and everyone is pitching in,� said Smith, who helped the Cardinals win for the fourth time in their final at-bat. “I was able to get the good part of the bat on the ball--we win.�

The Cardinals have rallied to win in half of their 12 victories. They trailed 3-0 before Smith’s single off first baseman Sid Bream’s glove scored pinch runner Geronimo Pena from second to cap a three-run rally. Pena was on third when Smith lined a pitch into center field in the 11th, and he scored without a play.

“The key was Pena,� Cardinal Manager Joe Torre said. “That was heads-up baseball. That’s what speed does for you, and to the opposition.�

Pena drew a one-out walk in the 11th off Doug Sisk (2-1) and stole second. Milt Thompson was intentionally walked and Bernard Gilkey got an infield hit when shortstop Jeff Blauser couldn’t get the ball out of his glove in time for a forceout. That loaded the bases for Smith.

Lee Smith (2-0), the fourth St. Louis pitcher, pitched two perfect innings. Smith has two victories and seven saves in nine appearances for the Cardinals, who are 8-3 during a 13-game homestand.

In the seventh, Felix Jose doubled, Todd Zeile had a run-scoring single and Jose Oquendo singled with one out to chase starter John Smoltz.

Mike Stanton walked pinch-hitter Gerald Perry, loading the bases, and Smith barely beat Stanton’s tag after Bream knocked down the ball and tossed to first. Pena, a pinch runner, scored from second on the play.

Stanton blamed himself for getting over to the bag late.

“I just locked on it,� he said. “I thought I had the tag, but if I was there when I was supposed to be, it wouldn’t have even been close.�

A nonchalant fielding play by the rookie Gilkey in left helped the Braves score three runs in the fifth.

Gilkey drifted to his right for a ball hit by Bream to open the inning and it ended up dropping for a double. Rafael Belliard hit a run-scoring single and Jeff Treadway hit a two-run single.