The Braves beat the Cardinals 7-6 on July 13, but lose Austin Riley to injury. Top prospect Nacho Alvarez Jr. shines in his debut, leading the comeback.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Just hours after Austin Riley hit the injured list with a strained abdominal muscle, top prospect Nacho Alvarez Jr. stepped in, singled twice, and scored the game-winning run.
The gut punch arrived before the first pitch. Austin Riley, a pillar in the Braves' lineup, was placed on the 10-day IL with a strained abdominal muscle suffered during warmups. The loss of his .274 average and double-digit home runs is a significant blow. Yet, the corresponding move brought a spark of excitement with the recall of infielder Nacho Alvarez Jr. from Gwinnett. Wasting no time, Alvarez was thrust into the lineup and proved he belonged, collecting two singles and scoring the decisive run in the ninth inning on a Jurickson Profar groundout. While no one can replace Riley, Alvarez's poised debut provided a much-needed silver lining.
Alvarez's heroics were made possible by a classic Braves power display. Trailing late, the offense roared to life. Sean Murphy blasted a game-tying, three-run homer in the eighth, his 16th of the year. Not to be outdone, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Marcell Ozuna also went deep, providing the firepower needed to keep pace with the Cardinals. The 7-6 victory, which improved the Braves to 42-52, was a testament to the lineup's depth, with Daysbel Hernández picking up the win in relief and Raisel Iglesias shutting the door for his 11th save.
The injury bug isn't just affecting the lineup. With the starting rotation stretched thin, the Braves made another key move on Sunday, calling up right-handed pitcher Davis Daniel from Triple-A Gwinnett. Daniel, a recent acquisition, is expected to provide immediate innings and shore up a staff that has been battling inconsistency and health issues. His arrival underscores the challenges the front office faces in keeping the team competitive through a difficult stretch of the season.
As the Braves head into Sunday's matinee seeking a series sweep against the Cardinals, all eyes will be on the new faces. Can Nacho Alvarez Jr. continue to fill the massive shoes at third base? Will Davis Daniel provide the stability the rotation desperately needs? Winning Saturday's game was a massive boost, but the road ahead is fraught with challenges. How this patched-up squad responds over the next ten days could very well define their season.
