Nolan Gorman smashed a two-run home run during a big second inning, helping the St. Louis Cardinals defeat the Atlanta Braves 9-5 in the second game of Saturday’s split doubleheader. This win prevented the Cardinals from being swept after the Braves took the first game 3-2 with Ozzie Albies hitting a walk-off sacrifice fly in the 10th inning.
Sonny Gray, who had 10 strikeouts, struggled by giving up a career-high four home runs in the second game, including two by Marcell Ozuna. Despite this, Gray remained positive about his performance, emphasizing that solo home runs alone usually don’t decide games.
Ozuna hit his 28th home run in the sixth inning, while Austin Riley and Eddie Rosario also contributed with home runs, with Rosario hitting a two-run shot in the first game as well.
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol praised Gray for managing through the Braves’ lineup and rebounding after a tough sixth inning, which allowed him to pitch a perfect seventh.
Atlanta’s Bryce Elder, called up from Triple-A Gwinnett as the 27th man for the second game, struggled by giving up six runs in five innings. The Cardinals capitalized on Elder’s struggles, taking a 5-1 lead after the second inning with Alec Burleson adding a run-scoring single following Gorman’s home run and Brandon Donovan hitting a home run in the fifth inning.
The Braves had a potential two-run homer by Austin Riley in the first inning overturned after a successful challenge by the Cardinals revealed the ball was foul.
In the first game, the Braves secured the win in extra innings on Ozzie Albies’ sacrifice fly, with Eddie Rosario contributing a game-tying two-run homer in the seventh inning. Rosario, who returned to the Braves after starting the season with the Nationals, expressed appreciation for the fans chanting his name during the games.
