ATLANTA -- Cardinals starter Dustin May exited Thursday's series finale against the Braves in the first inning with a right ankle contusion after being hit by a line drive.
With the bases loaded, Dominic Smith hit a one-out, three-run double on May's 30th pitch of the inning -- after the ball deflected off May's ankle before rolling into the outfield -- giving the Braves a 4-3 lead.
Making his first start since missing his previous turn with lower back tightness, May entered the bottom of the first with a 3-0 lead after Jordan Walker's three-run home run. Drake Baldwin opened the inning with a line-drive single before Ozzie Albies and Matt Olson drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. May struck out Michael Harris II looking, then allowed an RBI single to Mauricio Dubón before Smith's double.
May remained on his knees for several minutes as manager Oliver Marmol and the Cardinals' training staff checked on him. After throwing a few warmup pitches, he stayed in the game and faced three more batters, allowing a single to Austin Riley, a sacrifice fly to Mike Yastrzemski and another single to Jim Jarvis.
Marmol then emerged from the dugout and called on left-hander Justin Bruihl, who retired Baldwin on a groundout to end the inning.