The Braves jumped on the Cardinals early, then waited through a two-hour and 37-minute rain delay before securing a 6-3 victory Monday at Truist Park. The long evening was just the first of four games between two teams that expect to play in October.
Here are five takeaways from the game:
1. The Braves pulled away quickly, scoring five runs in the second on four hits, a walk and a hit by pitch. They held a six-run advantage after two frames.
Travis d’Arnaud and Marcell Ozuna singled to start the second inning. Two outs later, Michael Harris was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Cardinals starter Dakota Hudson walked Ronald Acuna on four pitches to make it 2-0.
Dansby Swanson, assembling an All-Star worthy – and maybe even MVP caliber – season, overcame an 0-2 hole to win an eight-pitch duel with Hudson. Swanson laced a slider into left center that cleared the bases.
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
2. Swanson has six RBIs in four games this month. After doubling twice Monday, he’s hitting .304/.361/.507 and has cemented himself among the legitimate National League MVP candidates at the midseason point.
“He deserves (to be in the MVP conversation),” starter Kyle Wright said. “He’s worked his tail off. He’s been huge for us this year. I definitely don’t think we’d be in the position we’re in without him. He deserves it. He’s a great teammate, great human being and obviously a great baseball player.”
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
3. Eddie Rosario returned to the lineup for the first time since late April. He was sidelined after undergoing a right eye procedure to address swelling and blurred vision. Rosario manned left and hit seventh, going 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
“You can tell he’s going to need some more at-bats before he gets there,” manager Brian Snitker said. “But it’s nice having him in the lineup. I thought he was fine in the outfield. … Adding a left-handed bat, it’s something we’ve been lacking all year. That’s why we signed Eddie, the job he did last year and the fact we have that left-handed bat to balance things out a little bit better.”
4. Wright allowed one run on three hits over four innings. His outing was cut short by the rain. It wasn’t his A-performance – the Cardinals had a pair of baserunners in the second and fourth frames – but he prevented St. Louis from stringing together offense. Wright has a 2.91 ERA through 16 starts.
“Very (satisfied with how my season has gone),” Wright said. “I feel like I’m back to who I believe I can be. I feel like I can still be better. I could do a better job putting guys away, for one. I left a couple pitches over the plate I wasn’t happy with. So I’m very happy with where I’m at but I think I could do better. I still have a lot to learn and can continue to grow as a pitcher, but I’m happy with what I’ve been able to do so far.”
5. First baseman Matt Olson had an RBI single in the first and second innings. He has 24 RBIs across his last 31 games (since June 1). The Braves are 24-7 over that stretch.
Motter mourned, honored
Monday marked the Braves’ first home game since public address announcer Casey Motter died last week. The team honored him with a video and moment of silence before the game. Motter worked with the Braves since 2007 and was coined “the voice of Truist Park.”
Stat to know
47-34 (The Braves are 13 games over .500 at the season’s halfway point.)
Quotable
“I have too cat-like reflexes. That would’ve left a mark.” – Snitker on dodging Harris’ fouled liner at the Braves’ dugout in the sixth inning
Up next
The Braves and Cardinals continue their four-game series Tuesday when Ian Anderson (6-5, 5.31) faces Andre Pallante (2-3, 2.10).
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