By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The St. Louis Cardinals snapped a five game losing skid in explosive fashion, coming from behind to beat the Atlanta Braves 10-4 on Tuesday night at Truist Park.
St. Louis didn't have to come from behind at first, taking the lead in the game first in the third inning, thanks to Lars Nootbaar. Victor Scott II opened the inning with a single, and after Masyn Winn in his return to the lineup from a stint on the injured list lined out to third base, Nootbaar blasted a home run to right field to give the Redbirds a 2-0 lead.
Atlanta added all four of their runs though over the next two innings to snatch the lead back. A Sean Murphy home run started the scoring in the fourth inning before Jared Kelenic doubled and was later driven in on a double by Alex Verdugo. Verdugo advanced to third on a wild pitch by Cardinals starter Andre Pallante and scored on a single by Austin Riley to cap the three run inning. A home run from Matt Olson was the lone run, and final run of the game for the Braves, in the fifth inning.
In the sixth inning, St. Louis stormed back to tie the game up after Rafael Montero loaded the bases. Alec Burleson led the inning off with a single, and Jordan Walker and Scott II walked, before Winn singled to bring home Burleson. Dylan Lee replaced Montero and struck out Nootbaar, but a wild pitch allowed Walker to score. Lee intentionally walked Wilson Contreras to load the bases, then getting Nolan Gorman to fly out to center ending the inning.
It was Gorman however, that gave the Cardinals the lead back for good in the eighth inning. Scott II doubled, and then moved to third base thanks to a wild pitch from Enyel De Los Santos. De Los Santos intentionally walked Nootbaar, who stole second base, and then walked Contreras before Gorman hit a bases clearing double to right field, giving St. Louis a 7-4 lead and moving to third on the throw in. A Nolan Arenado ground out to third base put an end to the inning with Gorman stranded at third.
The Cardinals added the final three runs of insurance in the ninth. Burleson and Pedro Pagés singled before Scott II drove in Burleson with a double, Pagés though was forced to hold up at third base. With two runners in scoring position, Winn hit a sacrifice fly to score Pagés and advance Scott II to third. Nootbaar drove in his third run of the game with a single to bring home Scott II for the final score.
Steven Matz earned the win in relief, moving to 2-2 on the season, pitching 2.2 innings and giving up one hit, striking out two and walking one. In a no decision, Pallante pitched 4.1 innings, giving up all four runs on seven hits while striking out one and walking three. Scott II led the way hitting going 3-4 with two RBI's.
Nootbaar (2-5, 1 HR, 3 RBI), Contreras (2-4, 1 run) and Burleson (2-5, 2 runs) also helped pace the Redbirds hitting in the win.
The Cardinals and Braves wrap up their series and the Redbirds wrap up a roadtrip before returning to Busch Stadium for three games tomorrow. Miles Mikolas takes the mound for St. Louis in the finale against Bryce Elder for Atlanta. First pitch is at 11:15 am, pregame will be joined at 11:05 on KY 102 (102.5 FM).
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