The Atlanta Braves took on the Cardinals in the series finale at home in a game that looked like it may be a high scoring affair due to both starting pitchers having ballooned ERAs above seven.
The expected high scoring from the offenses against the SPs did not end up being the case. Bryce Elder and Miles Mikolas both had arguably their best appearances of the season in the same game. Albeit, with some serious luck for both of them.
Elder got a bit lucky in the first inning. He walked Lars Nootbar, but then Willson Contreras grounded into a double play. Nolan Gorman was then also walked and then moved to second on a wild pitch from Elder. Former Platinum Glove winner, Nolan Arenado then doubled to make the score 0-1 and fortunately did not score on a single from Alec Burleson because Nick Allen was able to stop the ball. The top of the inning finally ended after a lineout.
The Braves looked like they may get something going in the first when Harris and Riley had back-to-back singles. Ozuna struck out looking though and Matt Olson hit a 113.8 MPH rocket that had an xBA of .850 right at Jordan Walker. Albies then flew out to end the inning with no runs.
Elder came back unshaken in the second and had a clean inning, producing two groundouts. The Braves yet again looked promising in the second when Drake Baldwin led off with a walk. Eli White and Jarred Kelenic came up short, but Nick Allen put runners on the corners with a single to center. However, momentum died when Allen was then picked off.
Elder looked decent in the third even though he issued another walk. He was able to pick up two more groundouts and a flyout to limit any damage done. Harris and Riley could not repeat what they did the first go around as they both hit into groundouts. Ozuna made up for his strikeout with a single, but then Matt Olson hit a 345ft flyout.
Elder came out in the fourth looking strong by his standards. He picked up his first strikeout and picked up another groundout. He did give up another double, but it did not cause any damage. The Braves yet again had a baserunner when Drake Baldwin singled, but nothing else could get done in the Braves’ half of the fourth.
Elder stayed in the game for the fifth, which makes sense since he was doing a solid job combined with yesterday being a bullpen game. Willson Contreres singled and stole second, but that was the only offense the Cardinals had. Elder picked up another strikeout along the way.
The Braves still could not get a runner across in the fifth, even though they had runners on base. Harris singled and Ozuna walked, but with runners on first and second, no one scored. However, Austin Riley did hit a ball that would have been a HR in literally every other park.
riley’s flyout to LF was a HR in 29/30 ballparks.
— Ryan Foster (@ryan05foster) April 23, 2025
His strong start continued as Elder was back out in the sixth. He picked up two more groundouts and gave up a single. His game was over after six. His final line was 6.0 innings pitched, five hits, one ER, three walks, and two strikeouts. The most exciting part was his groundballs forced. He was able to force nine groundouts in only six innings. He was replaced by Pierce Johnson. The sixth was the first inning in which the Braves has no baserunners.
Peirce Johnson looked sharp in the seventh. He was able to force a groundout and a pop up while facing the minimum hitters. The Braves were finally able to break through in the seventh after Mikolas was replaced by John King. Fairchild replaced Kelenic but was promptly called out on strikes. Nick Allen then doubled, followed by a Harris single to tie the game 1-1.
Once the game was tied, Kyle Leahy came in relief and was able to strike out Riley on three pitches, followed by a popup from Ozuna.
Rafael Montero came in the game to pitch the eighth. This seemed like an odd choice since he gave up two earned runs on two hits and two walks yesterday in only 0.1 innings of work. Montero walked Contreras but was able to strike out Gorman followed by a flyout from Arenado. Burleson then singled, so Snitker pulled the plug and brought in Daysbel Hernández. The strategy paid off as Jordan Walker struck out to end the top of the eighth.
The Braves broke it open in the eighth. Matt Olson and Ozzie Albies both singled to lead off the inning. Sean Murphy then came in the game and moved them over with a slow grounder that the catcher ended up fielding. Eli White then hit his first HR of the year after right Ryan Fernandez relieved JoJo Romero to make the score 4-1 on an absolute moonshot to the second deck. Fairchild and Allen then struck out to end the inning.
Daysbel Hernández stayed in the game to try and close it out. He was able to get Pozo to pop out, then strike out Scott. Winn was able to squeak a single, but then Nootbar grounded out to Albies to end it.
Bryce Elder had his best performance of the season, and Eli White came through in a clutch moment as the Braves took their second series in a row.
The Braves are off tomorrow but then travel out to Arizona to face the Diamondbacks on Friday.
