The Cardinals fall to the Braves 7-6 on July 12 after a bullpen collapse. Sean Murphy's late homer off Phil Maton sealed the heartbreaking loss for St. Louis.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
In a game that felt like a heavyweight fight, the St. Louis Cardinals landed major blows but couldn't withstand a late-inning flurry from the Atlanta Braves, ultimately falling 7-6 in a gut-punch loss at Busch Stadium. A back-and-forth affair saw the lead change hands multiple times, but a rare stumble from the team's most reliable relievers proved to be the difference, leaving fans to wonder what could have been.
Sean Murphy’s three-run homer in the eighth off Phil Maton was the first the reliever had allowed in 37 appearances, a stunning turn of events that shifted the game's momentum.
The Cardinals carried a 5-3 lead into the eighth inning, a scenario that has typically been a lock with their top relievers. But on Saturday, the script was flipped. Manager Oliver Marmol turned to Phil Maton, who saw his incredible streak of 36 straight appearances without allowing a home run come to a screeching halt when Sean Murphy launched a three-run shot to put Atlanta ahead 6-5. Though the Cards clawed back to tie it when Garrett Hampson scored on a wild pitch, the damage was done. Ryan Helsley (3-1) couldn't stop the bleeding in the ninth, allowing the go-ahead run to score on a groundout, sealing a frustrating loss.
Despite the loss, the Cardinal bats showed plenty of life. Nolan Gorman continued his power display with a crucial two-run homer, a sight manager Oliver Marmol praised post-game as a sign of his consistent production. The biggest blast of the night, however, came from Yohel Pozo. In the sixth inning, Pozo absolutely demolished a pitch, sending it a staggering 406 feet to give the Cardinals a temporary 4-3 lead. It was a moment of pure electricity that, for a time, seemed like it might be the game-winner. Brendan Donovan also contributed a solid night with two hits and an RBI.
While the big-league club dealt with disappointment, the future of the organization was on full display. Top prospect JJ Wetherholt, the Cardinals' lone representative at the MLB All-Star Futures Game, made his presence felt with a 386-foot double. Down on the farm, Hancel Rincon continued his dominance for Springfield, earning Player of the Day honors with a six-inning, one-run masterpiece. The future is also arriving now, as the team recalled top pitching prospect Gordon Graceffo from Memphis. Known for his improved command, Graceffo is expected to add a high-leverage arm to the bullpen, with Matt Svanson being optioned in a corresponding move.
Tonight's loss stings, there's no doubt about it. Letting a late lead slip away to the Braves is a tough pill to swallow. But between the long balls from Gorman and Pozo and the stellar performances from prospects like Wetherholt and Rincon, there are clear silver linings. The immediate question is how the bullpen will bounce back, and the arrival of Gordon Graceffo from Memphis couldn't be more timely. The Cardinals will need to shake this one off quickly and prove their late-inning relief corps is still the force it's been all season.
