ATLANTA -- Jordan Walker was excited to return home for the Cardinals’ series against the Braves. The Stone Mountain, Ga., native, playing about 28 miles from where he grew up with family in the stands and a plaque in the visiting clubhouse, drove in four runs to help lead the Cardinals to an 11-5 win over the Braves at Truist Park.
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 Walker's 19th home run of the season after going a career-high 14 straight games without an extra-base hit.
Entering the top of the seventh trailing 5-3 -- after starter Dustin May was hit with a liner and exited with a bruised right ankle during Atlanta's five-run first -- 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. Lars Nootbaar then hit an RBI double to move Walker to third.
The Atlanta native capped the seven-run inning by scoring on Winn's fielder's choice, beating the tag at the plate with a swim move, scoring St. Louis’ 10th run of the game.
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.