The Atlanta Braves opened a seven-game homestand Wednesday night with a 4-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals at Truist Park, undone by a two-run 9th inning that Atlanta’s bullpen could not hold.
Matt Olson drove in two runs and Michael Harris II added an RBI single, but Raisel Iglesias could not protect a one-run lead in the top of the 9th. With one out, Lars Nootbaar lined a single to left and Matthew Liberatore followed with a two-out double to right-center that scored two and put St. Louis ahead 4-3.
Iglesias (2-2) took the loss. He had been one of the most reliable late-inning arms in the National League over the past month, converting 11 of 12 save opportunities.
Atlanta had taken a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the 7th on a sacrifice fly from Olson, his 57th RBI of the season. The Braves outhit the Cardinals 9-6 but stranded seven runners, including two in scoring position in the 8th.
“We had chances,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said after the game. “You can’t leave seven guys on base against a good team and expect to win. We’ll come back tomorrow and try to even the series.”
The loss drops Atlanta to 47-42 on the season and 1.5 games behind Philadelphia in the NL East. The Cardinals improve to 40-47.
The two teams meet again Thursday at 7:15 p.m. at Truist Park, with RHP Hurston Waldrep (0-0, 3.68 ERA) expected to start for Atlanta against RHP Miles Mikolas (6-7, 4.21) for St. Louis. The series continues Friday at 7:15 p.m. before Atlanta hosts the Pittsburgh Pirates over the weekend.