Atlanta, GA (Best E Casino) - Joe Mather hit a two-run home run and Chris Carpenter allowed a run over four innings in his first start in nearly 16 months as the St. Louis Cardinals topped the free-falling Atlanta Braves, 7-2, in the third of four games at Turner Field.

Carpenter, the 2005 National League Cy Young winner, allowed five hits while walking two and striking out two on 67 pitches in his first start since Opening Day 2007. The right-hander underwent Tommy John ligament replacement surgery last July and spent 270 days on the disabled list before being activated Wednesday.

"It was something I've been looking forward to for a long time," Carpenter said. "It was just fun to get back out there and compete at this level. I went out to try and do everything I could to give our team a chance to win as long as I could."

Brad Thompson (4-2) allowed a run in 2 2/3 frames for the win, while Ron Villone recorded the final four outs for his first save since 2005.

Adam Kennedy went 2-for-5, knocked in a run and scored twice for the Cardinals, who have won three straight and four of five overall. Albert Pujols added an RBI double, while Ryan Ludwick and Troy Glaus knocked in a run apiece.

Omar Infante went 3-for-5 with an RBI for the Braves, losers of five straight. Casey Kotchman went 0-for-5 in his Atlanta debut after being acquired Tuesday in the trade that sent Mark Teixeira to the Angels.

"Obviously I wanted a different outcome tonight, but I'll try to get back in there tomorrow and get a 'W'," Kotchman said. "I'll be able to have a little better feel tomorrow of where I'm at, so to speak."

Jair Jurrjens (10-6) allowed three runs on seven hits in seven frames to take the loss.

With the game tied 2-2 in the seventh, the Cardinals pulled away with five unanswered runs over the final three frames. Kennedy singled to give St. Louis a start in the seventh, and Pujols followed with a double down the line in left. Shortstop Yunel Escobar caught the cutoff throw from Greg Norton and had a chance to throw out Kennedy, but double-clutched as the go-ahead run slid in safely.

Mather provided insurance in the eighth with a one-out, two-run blast off Blaine Boyer. Mather turned on an elevated fastball and deposited it into the seats in left for a 5-2 lead.

Atlanta loaded the bases with two outs against Kyle McClellan in the home eighth, but Villone came on in relief and retired Kotchman to end the inning.

"I wasn't feeling the pressure," Kotchman said. "I was just trying to go out and play, trying to perform and contribute."

Ludwick and Glaus picked up consecutive RBI singles to pad the lead in the top of the ninth, and Villone worked a scoreless bottom half to finish the win.

The Braves went just 3-for-15 with runners in scoring position and stranded 14 men on base.

Atlanta picked up the lead in the second when Jeff Francoeur singled in Infante, and Jurrjens out-dueled Carpenter over the first four innings.

But in the fifth the Cardinals pulled ahead. Mather doubled off the wall in left, and pinch-hitter Braden Looper sacrificed him to third. Cesar Izturis tied the game with a ground single to left, and one batter later Kennedy looped a run-scoring double to left.

Thompson relieved Carpenter in the home half and allowed a leadoff walk to Escobar, who scored on Infante's one-out single.

Game Notes

Boyer allowed two runs in just one-third of an inning...Cardinals center fielder Skip Schumaker left the game in the ninth inning with a hamstring cramp...Mather has four home runs this season, two of which have come in this series...The Cardinals were 4-for-11 with runners in scoring position.