Jurickson Profar wasted no time validating a key lineup change, delivering the decisive go-ahead RBI in the ninth inning, but it was Sean Murphy’s thunderous bat and Joey Wentz’s unexpected brilliance out of the bullpen that powered the Braves to a thrilling 7–6 win Saturday afternoon at Busch Stadium.
Atlanta shuffled its batting order for the game, moving Profar into the leadoff spot (a switch we recently advocated for) and sliding Ronald Acuña Jr. down to the No. 3 hole for the first time in his 766-game career. The adjustment paid immediate dividends. Acuña smashed a solo homer in the first inning to open the scoring, and Profar later delivered the clutch groundout that plated the winning run.
It was Sean Murphy, who had been on a tear at the plate and who had provided the game’s biggest swing. With Atlanta trailing in the eighth inning, Murphy unloaded on a Phil Maton offering, sending a towering three-run homer into the seats to flip a 5–3 deficit into a 6–5 lead. It was Murphy’s 16th home run of the season and the latest highlight in a stretch where he’s consistently delivered damage in the heart of the order.
Marcell Ozuna added a solo homer in the second inning as the Braves built an early advantage. After the Cardinals surged back to take control, Wentz entered and steadied everything. Originally drafted by Atlanta and traded to Detroit in 2019 for Shane Greene, Wentz returned to the organization this season with little fanfare. Entering the day with a career ERA/FIP/xFIP line of 139/120/116, he fired three shutout innings with six strikeouts, giving Atlanta the desperately needed bridge.
The bullpen wobbled again in the bottom of the eighth. Daysbel Hernández walked two and fired a wild pitch that allowed the tying run to score, but the Braves refused to fold. In the ninth, Alvarez Jr. singled, Harris laid down a sacrifice bunt, and pinch-hitter Drake Baldwin followed with a base hit. Profar then grounded a ball to second base, scoring Alvarez to put Atlanta back on top.
Raisel Iglesias came on in the bottom of the ninth and retired the side to lock down the save and secure the win.
Nacho’s Big Trip to St. Louis
Saturday’s victory capped a whirlwind stretch for the Braves, who lost Austin Riley to an abdominal strain. In Riley’s absence, the team summoned Nacho Alvarez Jr., who had just returned from the injured list last night with Triple-A Gwinnett and drove to St. Louis before dawn. He delivered two hits and the go-ahead run in a memorable return.
Notable Performances
- Sean Murphy: 1-for-4, HR (16), 3 RBI, continuing his red-hot run in the middle of the lineup
- Joey Wentz: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 6 K, critical bridge relief against his former organization
- Jurickson Profar: Go-ahead RBI in the ninth in his first game as leadoff hitter
- Ronald Acuña Jr.: 1-for-3, HR (12), 2 R, RBI, BB
- Marcell Ozuna: 2-for-4, HR (13), RBI
- Nacho Alvarez Jr.: 2-for-4, scored winning run
- Raisel Iglesias: 1.0 IP, 0 R, Save
Final Score
Braves 7, Cardinals 6
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