By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The St. Louis Cardinals managed to outhit the Atlanta Braves in their series opener on Monday, but the Redbirds did not get the end result they hoped for, their losing streak moving to five games as they fell 7-6 at Truist Park.
The Cardinals took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Nolan Gorman doubled with two outs and then scored on a single by Pedro Pagés, who advanced all the way to third base on a throwing error by Matt Olson. Pagés came home in the next at bat, a single by Victor Scott II. The Braves though, tied up the game one inning later. In the bottom of the third, after Alex Verdugo led off with a walk, Austin Riley hit his sixth home run of the year to left field.
With the game tied, St. Louis took the lead back in the top of the sixth, Nolan Arenado leading off with a double before scoring with a single from Nolan Gorman. However, Atlanta put up five runs in the eighth inning as pitching troubles started to hit the Cardinals after opening the inning with a strikeout of Verdugo.
Following the strikeout, Riley singled and Marcell Ozuna walked before Olson singled to drive in Riley, tying up the game. Reliever Phil Maton walked Ozzie Albies to load the bases, and was replaced by JoJo Romero, who came in and surrendered a sacrifice fly to Michael Harris II, driving in Eli White who pinch ran for Ozuna. Then, with two outs, Sean Murphy extended the lead with a three run home run to left field.
St. Louis attempted to put together a rally in the ninth inning. After Gorman struck out to start the inning, Pagés hit a ground rule double, then scored on a double from Scott II in the next at bat. Lars Nootbaar lined out to left field, then with two outs Willson Contreras cut the lead to one on a two run homer to left center field. Brendan Donovan walked, but with the tying run at first base, Nolan Arenado hit a soft grounder to Murphy and was tagged for the final out.
Maton took the loss, falling to 0-1 and blowing his first save of the season, pitching 0.1 innings and giving up four runs on two hits, walking two and striking out one. Erick Fedde in a no decision pitched six innings, giving up two runs on five hits, with three strikeouts and three walks. Scott II led the way at the plate, going 3-4 with two RBIs.
St. Louis will look to snap their losing streak as the series against the Braves continues tomorrow. Andre Pallante will start for the Cardinals while Atlanta's starter is listed as TBD. First pitch is at 6:15, pregame coverage will be joined at 6:05 on KY 102 (102.5 FM).
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