By MATT PIKE
The St. Louis Cardinals tied up the game the game late with the Braves after blowing a lead in the eighth inning, but a ninth inning run off closer Ryan Helsley was all Atlanta needed to beat St. Louis 7-6 on Saturday afternoon at Busch Stadium.
For the first time in his career batting in the three hole in the lineup, Ronald Acuña Jr. gave the Braves the lead in the first inning with a solo home run into the Atlanta bullpen. Two more runs scored in the second inning, the first again coming on a home run as former Cardinal Marcell Ozuna led off the inning with a blast to left center field. After Ozzie Albies singled, he advanced to third base on a single by Nacho Alvarez Jr., and then scored on a groundout by Michael Harris II.
Trailing by three runs, the Cardinals tied up the game in the bottom half of the second with three runs of their own. Yohel Pozo doubled to lead off the inning and moved to third base as Lars Nootbaar grounded out all before finally scoring on a single by Thomas Saggese. With Saggese on first base, Nolan Gorman evened the score with a two run home run to right center, his ninth home run of the year, to make it 3-3.
Gorman GONE! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/F3pWbssPYb
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) July 12, 2025
The Cardinals took the lead in the sixth inning thanks to another home run, this time a solo shot by Pozo to left center field with two outs. In the seventh the Redbirds extended the lead as All Star Brendan Donovan singled to drive in Gorman, who had singled earlier in the inning with one out after Saggese struck out to open the frame.
Yohel Pozo Hit the Buds to give us the lead!
Reply with #STLCards and #HitTheBudsSweepstakes for your chance to win whenever a Cardinals player hits a home run into the opposing bullpen!
Official rules: https://t.co/v3V0xNP2oe pic.twitter.com/dm2ZA3Rinm
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) July 12, 2025
Donnie delivers!
He's an All-Star for a reason. pic.twitter.com/J2WXDgYN0i
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) July 12, 2025
In the eighth inning, reliever Phil Maton blew the Cardinals lead, giving up another home run to the Braves, a three run home run to Sean Murphy, driving in Jurickson Profar who doubled to lead off the inning and Acuña Jr. who walked. St. Louis saved Maton though, tying up the game in the bottom half of the inning thanks to a wild pitch with the bases loaded, scoring Garrett Hampson who pinch ran for Alec Burleson after his one out walk.
Even with the game tied, St. Louis turned to closer Ryan Helsley to hold the tie in the ninth inning. But Alvarez Jr led off the inning with a single, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Harris II, before advancing to third base with a single by Drake Baldwin, eventually scoring as Profar grounded out to give Atlants the 7-6 lead. Raisel Iglesias came on in the bottom of the ninth for the Braves and retired the Cardinals 1-2-3 for his 11th save of the season.
Helsley fell to 3-1 on the season taking the loss giving up two hits and one run in his one inning of relief. At the plate, Gorman was 2-for-5 with the home run and two RBIs. Pozo was also 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and one RBI, while Donovan was 2-for-4 with a walk and an RBI.
St. Louis and Atlanta wrap up their series and the first half of the season tomorrow. Sonny Gray (9-3, 3.51 ERA) takes the mound for the Cardinals while the Braves starter is listed as TBD. First pitch is at 1:15, coverage will be joined around 1:05 on KY 102 (102.5 FM).
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.
