Cardinals lose a 7-6 heartbreaker to the Braves on July 13, 2025. Despite a late comeback and a hot bat from Willson Contreras, the bullpen faltered late.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was the kind of eighth inning that makes you believe, a moment of pure Cardinal grit. Down a run, bases loaded, a walk forces in the tying run and Busch Stadium erupts. But baseball can be a cruel sport. The hope was short-lived as the Atlanta Braves manufactured a run in the top of the ninth, silencing the crowd and stealing the series finale 7-6.
The 7-6 loss drops the Cardinals to a frustrating 50-47 on the season, a bitter pill to swallow after battling back to tie the game in the eighth.
The game was a back-and-forth affair from the start. Starter Erick Fedde battled through five innings, surrendering five runs, but the offense kept clawing back. The real drama unfolded late. After St. Louis tied the game 6-6 in the bottom of the eighth, the bullpen couldn't slam the door. A sacrifice bunt by Michael Harris II put the Braves in position, and Drake Baldwin delivered the heartbreaking, go-ahead RBI single in the ninth. It was a tough ending that underscored a recurring theme: the offense is fighting, but the late innings remain a tightrope walk.
Despite the team result, several Cardinals had days worth celebrating. Willson Contreras was a force, extending his hitting streak to six games with two crucial RBI singles. His performance pushed him past the 50 RBI mark for the season (he now has 53) and he even threw out a runner trying to steal. He's simply on fire. Not to be outdone, Brendan Donovan was an on-base machine, reaching three times and pushing his batting average to a stellar .297. These performances are the engine keeping the team's playoff hopes alive.
While no roster moves were made today, frustrating losses like this inevitably turn fans' eyes toward the future. The good news is the Cardinals' farm system is brimming with talent. Pitchers like Quinn Mathews and Tink Hence are getting closer to MLB-ready, and top 2024 draft pick JJ Wetherholt is tearing up the minors. While they may not be the immediate answer, knowing that high-impact prospects are developing provides a crucial dose of optimism for the second half of the season and beyond.
Today's loss stings, there's no way around it. Losing a winnable game at home in the final inning is a gut punch. But the Cardinals showed their fight, and players like Contreras and Donovan are leading the charge offensively. As the team moves forward, all eyes will be on the bullpen's ability to lock down these close games. The offense is doing its part, and if the pitching can find its late-inning footing, this 50-47 club is still very much in the thick of the postseason hunt.
