Atlanta, GA (Best E Casino) - Clint Sammons hit his first career homer and drove in three runs, as the Atlanta Braves avoided a four-game sweep with a 9-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Sammons, who was called up from the minors on Monday, was appearing in his sixth major league game and recorded his first RBI of his career.

"It's something that I'll remember forever, just like the first hit I got last year," Sammons said. "To get a home run and give us the lead is definitely a positive."

Mike Hampton was touched for four runs on seven hits and four walks in five innings. Hampton also chipped in two RBI.

Jeff Bennett (2-4) earned the win as he threw two innings of perfect relief.

Omar Infante added a solo homer and finished with two RBI for the Braves, who halted their five-game skid. Yunel Escobar and Mark Kotsay both drove in a run for Atlanta.

Joel Pineiro (3-5) took the loss as he was roughed up for six runs on 10 hits over six innings. Pineiro had a run-scoring double, as St. Louis pitchers have clubbed a major league-best 22 RBI on the season.

Albert Pujols had an RBI double for the Cardinals, who saw their three-game win streak come to an end. Ryan Ludwick drove in the other run for St. Louis.

One out after Kelly Johnson reached on a single in the sixth, Sammons launched his first major league home run over the fence in left to give Atlanta a 6-4 lead.

"We leave the ball up, that's what's going to happen," Pineiro said. "You make a mistake they'll make you pay for it."

Atlanta added a couple more runs in the seventh off Kelvin Jimenez. Escobar led off with a single and came around on Kotsay's double. Casey Kotchman then moved Kotsay to third with a groundout and Infante's double scored the runner.

Sammons led off the eighth with a single and pinch-hitter Greg Norton walked. Gregor Blanco moved Sammons to third with a double play and an Escobar single plated Sammons, putting the Braves ahead 9-4.

The Cardinals wasted no time in getting on the board. Cesar Izturis led the game off with a single and stole second base before Joe Mather worked a walk. Pujols then laced a two-run double to the gap in left.

The Braves rallied in the second inning. Infante led the frame off with a home run before Johnson flied out. Jeff Francoeur then connected on a single, though Sammons flied to left for the second out. Hampton helped his own cause with an RBI double to right-center.

St. Louis tacked on another run in the fourth stanza. Nick Stavinoha led off with a walk and moved to second as Aaron Miles grounded out. Jason LaRue grounded out, but Pineiro blasted an RBI double to left-center to put the Cardinals back on top.

The Braves took the lead, 4-3, in the fourth. It was first and second as Infante and Johnson started the inning off with singles. Francoeur then flied out to right, but Sammons smacked an RBI single to left and Hampton followed with an RBI fielder's choice.

Izturis and Mather clubbed singles to begin the fifth inning, but Pujols grounded into a double play, leaving Mather at second. Ludwick followed with an RBI single and the game was knotted at 4-4.

Game Notes

Cardinals pitchers had 20 RBI all of last season...Hampton has now given up 10 earned runs in nine innings. His last hit was Aug 14, 2005 vs. Arizona; his last two-RBI game came on Oct. 1, 2004 at Chicago.