McLouth out six weeks
NEW YORK -- Braves outfielder Nate McLouth had sports hernia surgery and will be out at least six weeks.
McLouth was placed on the 15-day disabled list last week with an abdominal strain. The operation was performed in Philadelphia on Thursday. McLouth also spent almost a month on the disabled list early in the season with a strained left oblique.
McLouth, hitting .228 with four homers and 16 RBIs, lost playing time when the Braves acquired Michael Bourn on Sunday at the non-waiver trade deadline for outfielder Jordan Schafer.
Jose Constanza, called up from the minors when McLouth went on the DL, should see more playing.
Braves 4, Mets 1
BOX SCORE
Dan Uggla extended his career-best hitting streak to 26 games with a two-run single in the eighth inning, Tim Hudson pitched seven stellar innings and the Atlanta Braves beat the New York Mets 4-1 on Friday night.
Rookie Freddie Freeman doubled twice to run his hitting streak to 19 games, a personal best. Hudson (11-7) allowed three hits in helping the Braves hand the Mets their fifth straight loss.
Jose Constanza had an RBI triple and Michael Bourn a sacrifice fly for Atlanta off R.A. Dickey (5-10). Constanza made two acrobatic catches on drives by Jose Reyes in left field and Jason Heyward made a diving grab on Daniel Murphy's drive in right.
The Mets fell nine games behind the wild card-leading Braves.
Cardinals 3, Marlins 2
BOX SCORE
MIAMI -- Lance Berkman's second double of the game brought home Albert Pujols with the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, and the St. Louis Cardinals held on to beat the Florida Marlins 3-2 on Friday night.
Pujols doubled off Florida starter Anibal Sanchez (6-5) to lead off the inning, and Berkman drove Sanchez's final pitch of the game into center field to put St. Louis on top.
Matt Holliday hit his 18th home run for St. Louis. Mitchell Boggs (1-3) threw a scoreless seventh for the win, and Lance Lynn struck out Mike Stanton with the bases loaded to end the game and seal his first major-league save.
Stanton had three hits, including a triple, and stole a base for the Marlins.
Nationals 5, Rockies 3
BOX SCORE
DENVER -- Michael Morse homered and Ian Desmond had four hits, including a liner that hit Rockies starter Juan Nicasio in the head, and the Washington Nationals beat the Colorado Rockies 5-3 Friday night.
Nicasio was struck in the second innings. The ball slammed into the right side of Nicasio's head with a smack and caromed away, rolling over the first-base line.
Nicasio (4-4) was taken to the hospital where he was undergoing tests, the Rockies announced.
Rick Ankiel had three hits and Ryan Zimmerman and Danny Espinosa had two hits each for Washington. Drew Storen got the last four outs for his 28th save.
Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann (7-9) allowed just two hits through the first five innings.
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