Crooks Homer Lifts Cardinals Past Braves

ST. LOUIS — Jimmy Crooks hit a go ahead home run in the eighth inning to lift the St. Louis Cardinals to a 2-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves early Saturday after a game delayed 2 hours and 44 minutes by rain. Jordan Walker drove in the Cardinals’ first run with an RBI single in the sixth before Crooks broke a 1-1 tie with his second homer of the season. JoJo Romero earned the win with a scoreless eighth inning, and Riley O’Brien recorded his 23rd save. The Cardinals will send left hander Matthew Liberatore (4-6, 5.34 ERA) to the mound Saturday night against Braves right hander Reynaldo López (4-1, 3.18 ERA).