Three was the Cardinals’ magic number on Tuesday night in Atlanta.
They hit three three-run homers, from Marcell Ozuna, Yadier Molina and Kolten Wong, to snap a three-game losing streak with the win over the Braves.
The last time the Cardinals hit three three-run homers in a game was on April 15, 2016 at Cincinnati.
Ozuna got the big offensive night started with his homer in the first, his 12th of the season and first since May 5. Molina’s blast came in a six-run fifth inning and Wong capped the big night with his homer over the center field wall in the ninth.
Here is how the game broke down:
At the plate: Dexter Fowler also homered for the Cardinals, leading off the fourth inning. It was their second four-homer game this season, the other coming on April 14 at Cincinnati … Every starter had at least one hit and seven drove in at least one run, with Paul Goldschmidt and Paul DeJong the only two who did not record an RBI … Fowler reached base four times with the homer, a single and two walks.
On the mound: Jack Flaherty did not allow a hit through the first four innings but gave up all three of the Braves hits in the game in the fifth, when they scored all three of their runs. He was lifted after the sixth and 109 pitches. He walked five and struck out six … Giovanny Gallegos, Dominic Leone and Luke Gregerson all worked scoreless innings in relief, with the only runner reaching base courtesy of a two-out walk in the eighth by Leone.
Key stat: The 14 runs equaled the most the Cardinals have ever scored in a game in Atlanta. They also scored 14 on Aug. 27, 1978. The last time they scored more than 14 runs as the visitor against the Braves was in 1940 (17) when the Braves played in Boston.
Worth noting: Carlos Martinez is scheduled to make what could be his last minor-league rehab appearance on Wednesday for Double-A Springfield. The Cardinals would like him to throw about 30 pitches and assuming there are no issues in the game or in his recovery, Martinez could join the Cardinals this weekend in Texas … Tyler O’Neill homered again for Memphis on Tuesday, giving him six homers in 11 games since he was optioned to the Triple-A club … Top prospect Nolan Gorman hit his league-leading ninth homer for Peoria on Tuesday night and also had a triple, getting thrown out at the plate trying for an inside the park homer. Despite going through a bit of a slump Gorman is second in the league with 27 RBIs in 34 games.
Looking ahead: Michael Wacha will get the start on Wednesday in the second game of the series.
