Atlanta Braves begin the month of July in the win column, defeat St. Louis Cardinals 5-1

The Atlanta Braves were competing with several distractions at The Battery on Tuesday night. Madison Beer made a tour stop at the Coca-Cola Roxy, and the United States Men’s National Team, though playing its FIFA World Cup round of 32 match in the Bay Area, brought fans to the greenspace in The Battery for a watch party.

The Braves lost the series opener 5-3 on Tuesday night. That loss followed a series of losses in San Francisco (two) and in San Diego (three). The month of June could not end soon enough for what was once the hottest team in the National League.

The Braves began the month of July with a 5-1 victory over the Cardinals on Tuesday night.

With the game tied at one in the third inning, Ozzie Albies got the Braves back in front with a 380-foot solo home run to right-center field. The Braves’ offense had been hot and cold during the month of June, so getting an early lead was essential to not losing a third consecutive series.

Reynaldo Lopez was back on the mound for Atlanta, this time as a starter. Lopez made his eighth start of the season and 21st appearance. Through five innings, Lopez had thrown 69 pitches and struck out six Cardinals while giving up just one earned run. He was replaced by Dylan Dodd to start the sixth inning with the Braves ahead 2-1.

When the United States went ahead 1-0 against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 45th minute, chants of “USA, USA” broke out inside Truist Park.

Didier Fuentes came on to pitch in the seventh inning, and Dylan Lee came in to pitch in the eighth inning, and both pitchers kept the Cardinals from scoring a run. That wasn’t without a bit of help from the defense. Cardinals pinch-hitter Jose Fermin started the eighth inning with a deep fly to left field that would have tied the game at two if not for Dubon’s catch against the wall.

There were opportunities for the Braves to add to their lead. Jorge Mateo came to the plate with two runners on and two outs in the seventh inning. Mateo popped out to Cardinals third baseman Blaze Jordan to end the inning.

With two runners on base in the eighth inning for Michael Harris II, the potential first-time All-Star drove in Drake Baldwin, who walked to begin the inning, to give Atlanta a 3-1 advantage. Mauricio Dubon’s slow-rolling sacrifice tacked on another run to give Atlanta a 4-1 lead one batter later.

After being booed by Braves fans after striking out twice earlier in the game, Austin Riley drove in the fifth run of the game with a two-out single past Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn.

Rasiel Iglesias earned his 17th save of the season and helped Atlanta get back on its winning ways.

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