Walker caps happy homecoming with a flourish as Cards mount monumental rally

ATLANTA -- Jordan Walker had more than 250 friends and family members in attendance over the course of the Cardinals' series against the Braves.

The Stone Mountain, Ga., native, playing about 28 miles from his hometown, drove in four runs Thursday night to help lead the Cardinals to an 11-5 win over the Braves and a series victory.

Coming into the game, the Cardinals had scored a combined 16 runs while batting .180 over their previous seven games, having gone five straight games without recording multiple hits with runners in scoring position.

"We have [been looking for some slugging]," said manager Oliver Marmol, who celebrated his 40th birthday on Thursday. "A couple guys came through. ... Walker at home, he's got 1,000 people here, being able to hit a homer there in the first.

"So, just overall, it was a lot of cool little moments, but a gritty win to see what they're able to do regardless of the circumstances early," Marmol added of the Cardinals overcoming Dustin May's first-inning exit with a right ankle contusion.

The Cardinals attacked early, taking a first-inning lead when leadoff hitter JJ Wetherholt singled to right field before Iván Herrera was hit by a pitch. Walker then launched an 83.8 mph splitter a Statcast-projected 396 feet to left-center field for a three-run homer. It was his 19th home run of the season after going a career-high 14 straight games without an extra-base hit.

"Honestly, [Braves starter Hurston Waldrep has] unbelievable stuff, a lot of movement," Walker said. "[I was looking for] just something up, and then just shovel my best swing on the ball."

For Walker, hitting the home run back home was the culmination of everyone who has helped him throughout his baseball journey.

"It wasn't just my family," Walker said. "It was church members, old teammates, old coaches. I would say from T-ball up to high school, so it's pretty special to see them come out and support me. [They] show my journey through my baseball career since I was little."

After Waldrep exited with one out in the sixth, the Braves turned to a bullpen with the best ERA in the Major Leagues (2.93).

The Cardinals broke through, collecting 10 hits off Atlanta's four relievers as part of a 15-hit night that included a seven-run seventh inning.

"You talk about being relentless, they did that today," Marmol said. "[That seventh] inning, they just continued to take some really, really tough at-bats."

Trailing 5-3 entering the seventh, the Cardinals rallied when Masyn Winn singled before Nathan Church tied the game with a two-run homer on the first pitch he saw from Tyler Kinley, an 86.3 mph slider down in the zone.

Blaze Jordan worked a six-pitch walk before Dylan Lee replaced Kinley, and pinch-hitter José Fermín followed with an 0-2 single to left field. Wetherholt then fouled off five pitches before delivering a go-ahead RBI single to center, scoring pinch-runner Bryan Torres.

Herrera followed with an RBI single to extend the Cardinals' lead to 7-5. With the infield in, Walker added his fourth RBI of the night with a single to left field before Lars Nootbaar hit an RBI double to move Walker to third.

"Even [Nootbaar] gets down to two strikes and still finds a way. JJ gets down to two strikes after trying to bunt and then gets a base hit. It was just never giving in. And they made it really tough on the opposition today," Marmol said.

The Atlanta native in Walker capped the inning by scoring St. Louis' 10th run on Winn's fielder's choice, beating the tag at the plate with a swim move, which Walker later called his favorite part of the night.

The Cardinals threatened in the ninth, sending six batters to the plate, but Alec Burleson’s solo shot to break a six-game RBI drought was the only run they’d score.

St. Louis will continue its stretch of playing 14 games in 13 days without an off-day, all against teams currently in playoff position.

And Marmol enjoyed his birthday while watching Walker put together a nice series, including a steal and two outfield assists on Wednesday. Walker's eight outfield assists trail only Andy Pages for the Major League lead.

"It's a good series for him at home," Marmol said. "It's always cool to watch guys come back home and do stuff like that. They'll remember it, but also they're creating memories for those who are in attendance."