Cardinals Erupt for Seven in Seventh against Braves

Alec Burleson of the Cardinals celebrating a home run against the Braves with his teammates

Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

July 3, 2026

Cardinals 11, Braves 5

The St. Louis Cardinals erased an early deficit with a seven-run seventh inning and rolled to an 11-5 win over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday night at Truist Park. Jordan Walker drove in four runs, and Nathan Church, Alec Burleson, and Walker all homered. Gordon Graceffo earned the win in relief after the Cardinals rallied from behind. The victory sent the Cardinals out of Atlanta with a series win.

A Wild Start

The Cardinals jumped ahead in the first. With one out, Walker launched a three-run homer to left-center off Hurston Waldrep, a 396-foot blast that scored JJ Wetherholt and Ivan Herrera for a 3-0 lead.

The advantage did not last. Dustin May could not hold it, as the Braves answered with a five-run bottom of the first. Mauricio Dubón singled home Drake Baldwin before Dominic Smith cleared the bases with a three-run double to put the Braves ahead, 4-3. By the time the dust settled, May had been charged with five runs while recording only two outs, and the Braves led 5-3.

The Cardinals Answer

The relievers steadied the game for the Cardinals. Justin Bruihl, Ryan Fernandez, and the rest of the relief crew held the Braves scoreless the rest of the way, allowing the offense to climb back.

The comeback culminated in a seven-run seventh. Church tied the game with a two-run homer off Tyler Kinley, a 392-foot shot that scored Masyn Winn. The Cardinals kept the line moving from there. Blaze Jordan walked, José Fermín singled, and Wetherholt delivered an RBI single to score Bryan Torres for a 6-5 lead. Herrera followed with an RBI single, and Walker added a run-scoring single to make it 8-5. Lars Nootbaar hit a two-run double to make it 10-5 before Masyn Winn reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Walker for the seventh run of the inning. Church grounded into a double play to retire the side. When the dust settled, the Cardinals had batted around and blown the game open.

Pulling Away

The Cardinals widened the gap in the top of the ninth. Burleson capped the scoring with a solo homer in the ninth, a 395-foot shot to right off James Karinchak that pushed the final margin to 11-5.

The relief effort was decisive. Bruihl tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings before Fernandez, Graceffo, JoJo Romero, George Soriano, and Matt Svanson combined to hold the Braves without a run over the final seven-plus innings.

What Went Right for the Cardinals

Walker’s Big Night

Walker went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer, four RBI, and two runs scored.

A Lockdown Relief Effort

After May’s rough start, the Cardinals’ relievers were superb, holding the Braves scoreless the rest of the way. Bruihl’s 2 2/3 innings bridged the game and gave the offense time to rally.

Balanced Offense

The Cardinals collected 15 hits, with Wetherholt, Winn, and Church each reaching multiple times. Church homered and drove in two, and Winn added three hits from the middle of the order.

What Went Wrong for the Cardinals

Disastrous Start

May only recorded two outs, allowing five runs on five hits in the process. It was a rough outing that could have cost the Cardinals the game. However, the Braves pitchers had an even worse night than May.

Quick Hits

The Cardinals improved to 45-39 with the win with the Braves falling to 50-35.
The Cardinals scored seven runs in the seventh inning to break the game open.
Walker homered and drove in four; Church and Burleson also went deep.
The Cardinals collected 15 hits and went 5-for-13 with runners in scoring position.

Looking Ahead

Gordon Graceffo (6-1, 3.35 ERA) earned the win for the Cardinals as Tyler Kinley (4-3, 3.82) took the loss for the Braves, both in relief.

The Cardinals open a three-game road series against the Chicago Cubs on Friday, July 3 at 3:05 pm Central at Wrigley Field. The Cardinals are starting right-hander Andre Pallante (9-5, 3.83), and the Cubs are countering with newly acquired left-hander David Peterson (4-6, 5.86).