Three months ago, it would have been impossible to imagine the team the Braves fielded for Tuesday night's game.

But given the last three days, it makes some sense.

In head-spinning fashion, the Braves have gone from a team making a last gasp at contending in the NL East to a team dismantling. An hour after trading their cleanup hitter Mark Teixeira to the Angels, the Braves moved into the ugly transition phase in an 8-3 loss to the Cardinals.

"Never in my wildest dreams on July 29 would I imagine we'd be where we are right now with all the injuries, with Tex gone," Jeff Francoeur said. "I thought we'd be in first place, if not right there in the hunt. That's the frustrating thing to know we've got the talent; it just hasn't worked out."

The Cardinals took the lead on an unearned run in the eighth and poured on five runs in the ninth off Mike Gonzalez and Blaine Boyer, in an inning prolonged by a Greg Norton throwing error.

Pujols hit a solo homer in the sixth to tie the score, and he put the Cardinals ahead in the eighth after he doubled, stole third and scored on an errant throw by Corky Miller.

A makeshift Braves lineup entered the game hitting .259 collectively. Only four hitters were in the Opening Day lineup — Yunel Escobar, Mark Kotsay, Kelly Johnson and Francoeur. And pinch hitter and part-time outfielder Norton was batting cleanup and playing first base.

The Braves' three best hitters before Tuesday afternoon were either on the bench hurt (Chipper Jones and Brian McCann) or packing for California. McCann is likely to miss most or all of the homestand recovering from a concussion.

Their absence contributed to 11 runners left on base and a quiet night at Turner Field. It was dreary for more reasons than rainy weather. It was the kind of night this young generation of Braves fans has never seen.

Inside the clubhouse, it was awkward.

An hour before the game, with teammates in earshot, Mark Teixeira gushed to reporters that the Angels were "the best team in baseball."

While also being complimentary of his former teammates, it had a strange ring. Braves coaches recognized the situation and ushered Braves players into other areas of the clubhouse.

"I'm sure some of the young guys felt a little awkward," Chipper Jones said. "It was the first time through it. You don't know what to say. You don't know how to react. The good news for Tex is he's got a tremendous opportunity to play for a winner really for the first time in his career, and he's going to go through in October what we all dream about going through. The Braves gave him that opportunity.

"We're happy for him in that sense. We all love Tex. He's been a great guy. He's been a great teammate. And we want the best for him, but it's still disappointing."

Coming off a 12-3 loss to the Cardinals on Monday, the Braves managed to stay in this one until the ninth.

Gregor Blanco matched his career-high with four hits for the second time in a week. He reached base five times, including on a walk.

Jorge Campillo, who pitched well enough to win, was back on the mound two days after he pitched 1-2/3 innings in a wash-out start in Philadelphia. He held the Cardinals to two runs run in seven innings, including the Pujols homer. The first run off him came on a play in which it looked as if Miller had tagged Yadier Molina at the plate.