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7 outstanding and 4 poor efforts from Cardinals in Braves series win

By Miranda Remaklus |
Tyler O'Neill of the St. Louis Cardinals rounds second base after hitting a three-run home run against the Atlanta Braves. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images)
Tyler O'Neill of the St. Louis Cardinals rounds second base after hitting a three-run home run against the Atlanta Braves. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images)
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The St Louis Cardinals’ weekend series against the Braves had an epic playoff feel. 

The Cardinals won two of the three games from the World Series reigning champion Braves this weekend. The Cardinals lost terribly on Friday, 11-4. They won a close one on Saturday, 6-5. They won a pitchers duel of a game turned homer fest on Sunday, 6-3.

After Sunday’s game, the Cardinals head to Cincinnati for a three-game set against the Reds to close out August. The Cardinals will look to continue their hot streak into September as they return to St. Louis Friday to take on the Cubs in a three-game set.

The Cardinals are now 74-54 on the season, sitting atop the NL Central with a six-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers.  The Cardinals are 7-3 in their last ten games and are on a two-game winning streak.

The Braves are 79-50 and three games back of the Mets in the NL East. The Braves are first in the Wild Card standings ahead of the Phillies and Padres. The Brewers are 1.5 games out of Wild Card contention.

The Cardinals won two out of their three games with the Braves this weekend. While they were significantly out of the Friday game, the Cardinals looked sharp and unwilling to give up on Saturday and Sunday. It was a solid effort from a team charging toward the playoffs. They looked strong and much like a complete team that would do anything to lift each other and win at all costs.

This should be a fun September for Cardinal fans as we fly to the playoffs.

Now let’s take a look at the outstanding efforts by the Cardinals as well as the poor performances.

The top performance of the weekend came from Tyler O’Neill.

Cardinals Tyler O’Neill shines against Braves

O’Neill appears to be dusting off his poor start to 2022. It’s better late than never.

On Friday, O’Neill was one-for-three, with a run and two RBI. He walked once, struck out once, and left four on the base path. O’Neill knocked his ninth home run of the season on a fly to left-center field, scoring Nolan Gorman. The homer traveled 406 feet at 105 mph.

On Saturday, O’Neill was 0-for-2 with a run, an RBI, and three walks.

With closer Kenley Jansen on the mound, Corey Dickerson singled on a grounder to Dansby Swanson, allowing Brendan Donovan to score. With the bases still loaded, O’Neill came to bat. As if Jansen wasn’t aware of the situation, he walked O’Neill to score the walk-off, allowing the Cardinals to win 6-5. It was an unbelievable scene.

On Sunday, O’Neill had one at bat, scoring a run and three RBI.

For a second night, O’Neill came up huge for the Cardinals. O’Neill hit his tenth home run of the season on a fly to center field in Freese’s Landing, scoring Lars Nootbaar and Brendan Donovan. The homer traveled 423 feet at 101.7 mph.

Let’s take a look at the other outstanding performances of the weekend.

ST. LOUIS, MO – AUGUST 27: Nolan Arenado #28 of the St. Louis Cardinals hits a two-run home run during the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Busch Stadium on August 27, 2022 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Scott Kane/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO – AUGUST 27: Nolan Arenado #28 of the St. Louis Cardinals hits a two-run home run during the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Busch Stadium on August 27, 2022 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Scott Kane/Getty Images) /

Outstanding efforts from the Cardinals

Nolan Arenado

Arenado returned to the club Saturday with renewed strength thanks to the birth of his daughter, Levi. He was four-for-four on the evening with a new “Dad Strength” on full display. He scored one run and two RBI.

Arenado hit his 27th home run of the season on a fly to left field, scoring Paul Goldschmidt. The homer traveled 399 feet at 104.4 mph.

On Sunday, he was one-for-four with an RBI. Arenado singled on a sharp liner to left field, scoring Brendan Donovan.

Andrew Knizner

Knizner began the weekend series pitching two-thirds of an inning. He gave up one hit in his debut pitching performance.

On Saturday, Knizner was one-for-two with a run, and two RBI scored. Knizner hit his second home run of the season on a fly to left-center field, scoring O’Neill. The home run traveled. 397 feet at 100.3 mph.

Lars Nootbaar

The legend of Nootbaar continues to grow as he sees more and more playing time. On Friday, he was 2-for-5. He was 0-for-5 on Saturday.

On Sunday, he was one-for-three with two runs and an RBI. He did walk once. Cheers of “Noooot” rang out at Busch Stadium as Nootbaar hit home run number nine of the year. The homer was a fly to left field traveling 355 feet at a cool 99.2 mph.

Brendan Donovan

Donovan has been one of the Cardinals’ greatest rookie stories this season. While he’s not been used as much, the Cardinals have given Donovan a shot recently and he has stepped up. On Friday, he was two-for-five with an RBI. Donovan singled in the ninth inning on a liner to second base, deflecting off the head of pitcher Jackson Stephens. The play allowed Tommy Edman to score.

Donovan was one-for-five Saturday with a run scored. On Sunday, he was one-for-three with two runs scored.

Adam Wainwright

Sunday was Wainwright’s 200th start at Busch Stadium and his 322nd start as a battery with Yadier Molina. Unfortunately, he got a no-decision on the effort.

Wainwright pitched 6.2 innings, giving up eight hits and two earned runs. He struck out four batters while inducing five swings and misses.

Tommy Edman

Edman has struggled recently, but he seemed to turn a corner this weekend. On Friday, he was 0-for-three with two runs scored. He had another bad night at the plate Saturday, going 0-for-four with three strikeouts and three runners stranded.

On Sunday, he was one-for-three, scoring one run and an RBI. He knocked his tenth home run of the season on a liner to left-center field off A.J. Minter. The homer traveled 425 feet at 112.1 mph.

Ryan Helsley

On Saturday, Jojo Romero pitched an inning of relief of Jordan Montgomery, striking out two batters while inducing three swings and misses. Jordan Hicks looked sharp in his two innings of work. He gave up two hits but did strike out three batters while causing four swings and misses.

Helsley earned the win, now 8-1 on the season, pitching an inning of relief where he struck out two batters. Helsley’s max velocity reached 102.8 mph.

On Sunday, Helsley got his ninth win of the season, now 9-1 on the year, while giving up his fourth blown save. Helsley pitched 1.1 innings, giving up a hit and one earned run, including a home run to Dansby Swanson. He came back with a solid effort, striking out three batters and inducing five swings and misses. He did reach a max velocity of 101.5.

Giovanny Gallegos earned his 13th save, pitching one inning and giving up a hit.

ST LOUIS, MO : Jose Quintana #62 of the St. Louis Cardinals delivers a pitch against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at Busch Stadium on August 26, 2022 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MO : Jose Quintana #62 of the St. Louis Cardinals delivers a pitch against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at Busch Stadium on August 26, 2022 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

Poor efforts for the Cardinals

Jose Quintana

Quintana earned the loss Friday and is now 4-6 on the season. He pitched five innings, giving up seven hits, four runs, two earned runs, and two walks. He did strike out three batters. He did induce eight swings and misses.

He looked good to start the game but then seemed to lose control in the fourth inning. Hopefully, he can shake this off and improve in his next outing.

Genesis Cabrera

Cabrera had his worst outing on Friday, earning himself a demotion to AAA Memphis on Saturday. Cabrera pitched one inning, giving up six hits, five earned runs, and a walk. While he struck out no one, he did induce four swings and misses. Manager Oli Marmol said causing more swings and misses is something Cabrera must work on.

The Cardinals desperately need Cabrera to improve and be the valuable asset they have hoped he would become for them. If we see him again this season, here’s hoping he’s improved. He could be on the road to shutting down the season and pressing forward to 2023. I don’t think anyone could object to that happening.

Jordan Montgomery

Montgomery had his worst outing since joining the Cardinals. It was his first effort throwing to Knizner. He pitched five innings, giving up eight hits, five earned runs, and a walk. He gave up a home run to Travis d’Arnaud in the fourth inning, scoring Matt Olson and Austin Riley. He struck out four batters while inducing 11 swings and misses.

Montgomery appeared upset to be leaving the game Saturday. Here’s hoping he forgets this game and returns ready for his next outing.

Nolan Gorman

Gorman has struggled mightily lately as pitchers seem to believe they have figured out the rookie sensation. On Friday, he was two-for-four with one run and two strikeouts while leaving two on base.  He also had an error in the game resulting in an errant throw, allowing Dansby Swanson to score for the Braves in the fourth inning.

On Saturday, he was 0-for-2 in the evening, leaving two stranded on the base path. On Sunday, he was 0-for-2, striking out twice.

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