Nothing separated Atlanta and St. Louis for six innings. Then the Braves broke it open in the eighth, and what had been a tightly contested game became a comfortable 5-1 final.
Ozzie Albies was the central figure. He went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, 2 RBI and scored twice. His solo shot to right center in the third inning — 380 feet — gave Atlanta a 2-1 lead it would not relinquish. Albies also drove in a run in the first with his double, when Baldwin scored to tie the game at 1-1. Reynaldo Lopez earned the win, working 5.0 innings and allowing 1 run on 2 hits with 6 strikeouts and 1 walk. He is now 4-1 with a 3.31 ERA.
The game was tied after one. Jordan Walker's single to right scored Ivan Herrera to put St. Louis ahead 1-0 in the top of the first. Atlanta answered immediately when Albies doubled to right and Baldwin scored to even it at 1-1. Albies's home run in the third broke the tie for good. The Braves then put the game away in the eighth, scoring three times. Michael Harris singled to center and Baldwin scored to make it 3-1. Albies scored on a sacrifice bunt by Dubón. Austin Riley singled to left and Dubón scored, pushing the lead to 5-1.
Michael McGreevy absorbed the loss, falling to 3-7. He allowed 2 runs on 3 hits over 6.0 innings, striking out 3 and walking 1, with a 3.12 ERA. St. Louis managed only 2 hits on the night and committed 2 errors.
Atlanta improved to 49-33, holding first place in the division. The Braves had dropped two straight entering this game. St. Louis, winners of their previous game, fell to 43-38. Albies is one stolen base away from 100 for his career.