Monday’s Game Report: Braves 7, Cardinals 6
By Rob Rains
Upset with some of umpire Mark Carlson’s calls in the eighth inning, Cardinals manager Oli Marmol was ejected for the first time this season.
He wouldn’t have liked the next two pitches either.
JoJo Romero relieved Phil Maton with the bases loaded in the 3-3 game and gave up a sacrifice fly to Michael Harris II on his first pitch to put the Braves ahead. Romero’s next pitch, to Sean Murphy, ended up in the left field seats for a three-run homer.
The five-run inning gave the Braves just enough cushion to withstand the Cardinals’ three-run rally in the ninth and secure the victory in the opener of a three-game series in Atlanta.
The loss was the fifth in a row on this road trip for the Cardinals and left them 1-10 on the road this season. It’s their worst start to a season on the road since the 1960 Cardinals started the year 0-12 in road games.
Here is how Monday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: An RBI single from Nolan Gorman had given the Cardinals the 3-2 lead in the sixth … Gorman also doubled and scored in the second … Victor Scott II made his return to his hometown of Atlanta and had three hits, including an RBI single in the second and a double which drove in the first run in the ninth … Scott then scored on a two-out home run from Willson Contreras that cut the Atlanta lead to 7-6 … Brendan Donovan drew a walk to put the tying run on base but Nolan Arenado was retired on a checked swing that left the ball right in front of the plate to end the game.
On the mound: The only runs allowed by Erick Fedde over six innings came on two-run homer by Austin Riley in the third … Fedde scattered five hits, walked three and struck out three … Kyle Leahy worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning … Maton retired the leadoff batter in the eighth but then gave up a single and a walk before Matt Olson’s single drove in the tying run. A walk to Ozzie Albies loaded the bases and prompted Marmol’s ejection and brought Romero into the game.
Key stat: The Cardinals fell to 0-5 in one-run games.
Worth noting: Ryan Helsley has not appeared in any of the five games on the trip with his last appearance coming on April 16 … With a day off coming up on Thursday, the Cardinals have moved Steven Matz back to the bullpen for the series against the Braves … Masyn Winn rejoined the Cardinals on Monday and is expected to be activated from the injured list before Tuesday night’s game. The team will have to make a roster move to open up a spot for Winn.
Up next: Andre Pallante is the Cardinals’ scheduled starter for the second game of the series on Tuesday night. Spencer Strider had been scheduled to start for the Braves but he is headed to the injured list because of a hamstring issue.
Follow Rob Rains on X @RobRains
