The Atlanta Braves showed their resilience in a wild 6-5 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. But honestly, the bigger story was Ronald Acuña Jr.’s quick comeback from his recent health scare.
Scratched from the Home Run Derby with lower back soreness and missing Tuesday’s game, Acuña was back in the lineup and immediately made his presence felt. He looked healthy, swinging hard and running the bases with his usual fire.
Ronald Acuña Jr. Silences Injury Concerns
After Acuña withdrew from the Home Run Derby, fans were left wondering just how serious his back issue was. He’d already missed a game, so the anxiety was real.
He wasted no time putting those doubts to rest. Acuña led off with a double, then later drove in a run with a single. There was no sign of hesitation in his game—he looked like himself again.
Unleashing Power at the Plate
The numbers don’t lie. Acuña’s double rocketed off his bat at 113.3 mph, and his single wasn’t far behind at 110.1 mph. That’s the kind of power Atlanta counts on in big moments.
Sitting out the derby really seems like it paid off. Acuña chose his team over the spotlight, and it showed on the field against St. Louis.
Sean Murphy Leads Atlanta’s Offensive Charge
Acuña might have grabbed the headlines, but Sean Murphy deserves plenty of credit too. He launched two massive home runs, including a 440-footer that left everyone impressed.
Murphy finished with three hits, sparking the Braves’ early attack and keeping the pressure on the Cardinals. He’s quietly become one of the lineup’s most reliable hitters.
Contributions from Baldwin and Riley
Drake Baldwin and Austin Riley chipped in as well, helping Atlanta jump out to a 6-2 lead. Their early offense gave the Braves some breathing room, even as both teams’ starters struggled.
Riley had to leave in the fourth inning with lower abdominal tightness, which definitely took some wind out of Atlanta’s sails. Baldwin’s timely hits kept the team locked in.
Struggles for Starting Pitchers
The game’s offensive fireworks really just highlighted how rough things got for the starting pitchers. Grant Holmes for Atlanta and Matthew Liberatore for St. Louis couldn’t find their rhythm at all.
Neither made it out of the third inning, and both gave up at least nine hits. Atlanta’s rotation depth is already thin, so Holmes’ outing has to be a concern.
The Braves Bullpen’s Heroics
Thankfully, the Braves bullpen stepped up in a huge way. They covered six tense innings and shut down the Cardinals completely, not allowing a single run.
Manager Brian Snitker had nothing but praise for his relievers, calling their effort “critical” with the starters running on fumes. It’s hard to argue with that assessment.
Looking Ahead: Next Game Challenges
The Braves got the win, but there’s still plenty to figure out. Austin Riley’s dealing with that abdominal issue, and the rotation is still up in the air.
No starter’s been named for the next game, so the bullpen will probably have to carry the load again. If Wednesday’s game showed anything, it’s that this team doesn’t fold easily—even when the odds get weird.
Key Takeaways
- Ronald Acuña Jr. shut down injury worries with a standout game. His back soreness? Not a problem anymore.
- Sean Murphy lit up Atlanta’s offense with two huge home runs. He finished the night with three hits.
- Starting pitchers on both sides had a rough outing. It put their teams in a tough spot right from the start.
- The Braves bullpen tossed six scoreless innings and locked down the win.
- There’s still some doubt about Austin Riley’s injury. Atlanta also hasn’t announced who will start their next game.
Here is the source article for this story: Acuña quiets concerns over Derby opt-out in 3-hit game vs. Cardinals
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