Braves Rally in the Eighth to Stun Cardinals for Fourth Straight Win

Apr 21, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy (12) celebrates with first baseman Matt Olson (28) after a three-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals in the eighth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

The Braves entered Monday night riding a three-game winning streak after sweeping the Twins over the weekend. With momentum on their side, Atlanta looked to keep the bats hot as they welcomed the St. Louis Cardinals to town. On the mound, Spencer Schwellenbach got the call for the Braves, while the Cardinals sent out right-hander Erick Fedde, hoping to cool down a surging Atlanta lineup.

Schwellenbach opened the night by facing four batters in the first inning, allowing a single to Brendan Donovan before retiring the rest. Atlanta didn’t do much in the bottom half either, though Austin Riley and Matt Olson both reached on walks, but the Braves couldn’t capitalize.

Trouble came for Schwellenbach in the second. With two outs and nobody on, Nolan Gorman doubled, and Pedro Pagés followed with a single to right. Olson tried to make a play at third on the relay but threw the ball away, allowing Gorman to score. Victor Scott II then delivered an RBI single to make it 2-0 Cardinals. Just like that, St. Louis had taken advantage of a couple of missteps.

Still, I wasn’t worried. We've all watched enough to know the Braves usually have something cooking. Sure enough, in the third, they answered back. Alex Verdugo, who has been a spark since joining the lineup, drew a walk. Then Austin Riley stepped up and launched a game-tying two-run homer to left. Just like that, we were even, 2-2.

Schwellenbach looked sharper as the game went on. He tossed a clean 1-2-3 inning in the fourth and continued grinding through the St. Louis lineup. Meanwhile, the Braves offense cooled off again. Fedde was in control, limiting hard contact and keeping Atlanta off balance.

In the sixth, St. Louis pushed back ahead. Nolan Arenado led off with a double, and an error by Ozzie Albies put two on. Gorman again made the Braves pay with a single to right, scoring Arenado to give the Cardinals a 3-2 lead. Schwellenbach, despite being tested, closed out his night strong with a clean seventh. He finished with 7.0 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits, with five strikeouts. A solid outing all around.

With Fedde out of the game and Kyle Leahy holding the Braves in check in the seventh, Daysbel Hernández came on for the Braves and delivered a scoreless top of the eighth, and that turned out to be a huge setup for what came next.

Bottom of the eighth. If you’ve followed this team lately, you just knew something was coming. Verdugo struck out to start the inning, but then Riley reached on an infield single that was initially called out, overturned on review. Ozuna walked, and Eli White came in to pinch run. Olson, who’s been finding his groove again, drove in Riley with a sharp RBI single to tie it 3-3. Maton, pitching for St. Louis, lost the zone and walked Albies on four pitches. That was it for him.

JoJo Romero entered the game in the middle of a jam; kind of unfair to him, but that's baseball. Michael Harris II delivered a go-ahead sac fly to make it 4-3 Braves. Then Sean Murphy came to the plate and crushed a three-run bomb to left, his fifth homer of the season. The Braves exploded for five in the inning and led it 7-3 heading to the ninth.

Game over, right? Not so fast my friend.

Raisel Iglesias came in to close and got a strikeout to open things up. Then Pagés hit a ground-rule double, and Scott followed with another double to cut it to 7-4. After Nootbaar’s out, Willson Contreras hit a two-run shot to make it 7-6. Suddenly, the tying run was at first and the go-ahead run was at the plate. Donovan drew a walk, and the pressure was on; but with all eyes on the moment, Iglesias got Arenado to chop one right in front of the plate. Game over. Braves win 7-6!

This is the Braves' fourth straight win, and another heart-racing comeback to keep the good vibes going at Truist Park.

The Braves continue to prove that no lead is safe when they’re at home and within striking distance. From clutch at-bats to a statement swing by Sean Murphy, Atlanta once again showed their ability to flip the game late. Schwellenbach delivered a solid outing, the bullpen held when it mattered, and the offense came alive just in time. Even with a shaky ninth, they got the job done.

With four straight for the Braves, and with the momentum rolling, they’re starting to look like the dangerous team we all expected coming into the season. Come back tomorrow night for more exciting Braves baseball. First pitch is set for 7:15 PM EDT, and will be televised on FanDuel Sports Network.