Tuesday’s Game Report: Cardinals 5, Braves 3

By Rob Rains

In search of a bounce-back start after a series of rough outings, Matthew Liberatore got it on Tuesday night and gave the Cardinals exactly what they needed.

Liberatore allowed just one hit and one run as he pitched into the sixth inning in helping the Cardinals start a key road trip with a win over the Braves in Atlanta.

The win snapped a streak of four starts without a win for Liberatore, who had allowed 22 runs in 15 2/3 innings over that stretch. It also was his first win on the road in his last four starts, dating back to May 7.

Nelson Velazquez and Nathan Church provided the offensive support for Liberatore with home runs in the fourth inning, with Church launching a three-run shot.

The game opened a three-game series in Atlanta and a six-game road trip that includes three games against the Cubs in Chicago this weekend.

Here is how Tuesday night’s game broke down:

At the plate: Velazquez led off the fourth with his third homer of the season, tying the game at 1. A pair of singles put two runners on base for Church, whose two-out homer was his first since April 26, his sixth of the season … A sacrifice fly from Blaze Jordan in the sixth produced the final Cardinals’ run without a hit. Masyn Winn walked to open the inning, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch … Church’s homer was the Cardinals’ only hit in five at-bats with a runner in scoring position.

On the mound: Liberatore did issue four walks, but stranded two of them in the second with three consecutive strikeouts … The only run for the Braves off Liberatore came on a single, stolen base, wild pitch and a sacrifice fly. Liberatore struck out nine in his 5 innings, leaving the game after a leadoff walk in the sixth … The Braves closed the gap to 5-3 against the bullpen as JoJo Romero allowed four hits in just 2/3 of an inning before Ryan Fernandez, recalled from his rehab assignment in Memphis, issued two walks and threw two wild pitches in his 2/3 of an inning in the eighth … Riley O’Brien gave up a one-out double in the ninth that brought the potential tying run to the plate but he got two groundouts to end the game and secure his 21^st save.

Key stat: The home runs from Velazquez and Church gave the Cardinals 20 homers in their last 10 road games. They have hit three homers in their last 10 games at Busch Stadium.

Worth noting: Ferndnez took the place of Ryne Stanek in the bullpen. Stanek will miss this series after going on the paternity list and is expected to rejoin the team on Friday in Chicago … The win allowed the Cardinals to finish June with a winning record at 13-12 for the month … The rosters for the Futures Game, part of the All-Star game festivities, are scheduled to be announced on Wednesday … Lefthander Mason Molina was promoted from Springfield to Memphis.

Up next: Michael McGreevy will get the start on Wedesday night in the second game of the series.

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