The Atlanta Braves edged the St. Louis Cardinals 7-6 on July 13, 2025, but the win was bittersweet as star Austin Riley landed on the IL. Recap the drama.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
What a rollercoaster of a Sunday for Braves Country. One minute, you're celebrating a dramatic, extra-inning victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, and the next, you're processing the tough news that a cornerstone of the lineup is headed to the injured list. The Braves showed incredible fight to pull out a 7-6 series win, but the pregame announcement that Austin Riley was sidelined with an abdominal strain casts a shadow over the celebration.
Marcell Ozuna's 13th home run of the season traveled a whopping 422 feet with an exit velocity of 106.3 mph.
This wasn't just a win; it was a statement of resilience. The Braves and Cardinals traded blows all afternoon in a contest that felt like a heavyweight fight. Atlanta's offense came alive with three crucial home runs, providing the firepower needed to keep pace. After a late Cardinals rally forced extra innings, the Braves didn't flinch. The bullpen bent but didn't break, setting the stage for some unlikely heroics to secure the team's second straight victory and a much-needed series win.
The day started with a gut punch: All-Star third baseman Austin Riley was placed on the 10-day IL with a strained abdominal muscle suffered during warmups. Losing his .274 average and consistent power is a massive blow. But in the face of adversity comes opportunity. Top prospect Nacho Alvarez Jr. was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett, where he was tearing it up with a .333 average. In a twist of fate, it was Alvarez who found himself on base in the 10th inning, eventually scoring the winning run. It's a tough situation, but Alvarez's immediate impact is a silver lining.
While the whole lineup contributed, Marcell Ozuna provided the day's biggest firework. In the 2nd inning, the 'Big Bear' absolutely crushed a pitch from Erick Fedde, sending it a staggering 422 feet into the left-center field seats. The solo shot, his 13th of the year, was a no-doubter that gave the Braves an early spark and reminded everyone of the game-changing power he possesses. It was a classic Ozuna blast that got the Truist Park faithful on their feet.
This win feels significant. Despite the brutal injury news and their 42-52 record, the team fought tooth and nail. They remain in fourth place in the NL East, 12 games back of the Phillies, so the climb is steep. But with prospects like Nacho Alvarez Jr. stepping up and the offense showing signs of life, there's a glimmer of hope. The question now is whether they can build on this momentum and string together the wins needed to make a real second-half push, even without one of their best players. The next series will be a major test of this team's resolve.
