José Fermín's First Career Homer Lifts Cardinals Over Braves 5-3

Sunday, July 13th, 2025

ST. LOUIS -- José Fermín hit his first major league home run to break a sixth-inning tie in the St. Louis Cardinals' 5-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves on a soggy Sunday.

In his 159th career plate appearance, the 26-year-old Fermín smacked a sinker over the left-field fence off Jesse Chavez (0-1) with Masyn Wynn on base to cap the scoring.

Two rain delays totaled 4 hours, 2 minutes. The game lasted 2:38.

The Braves added a run off Gordon Graceffo (3-0) in the seventh. Graceffo threw 1 2/3 innings. Ryan Helsley pitched the ninth for his 19th save.

Matt Olson led the Braves with three RBI on two hits.

Chavez started the fifth for Atlanta. He gave up two runs with two outs when Willson Contreras dropped a double in shallow right field to tie it at 3.

Reliever Steven Matz surrendered two runs in the fifth. Just before the game was halted for a second time, Olson singled home two runs for a 3-1 advantage.

St. Louis went up 1-0 in the second inning off Atlanta’s Daniel Davis, who was recalled before the game and made his seventh career start and first this season.

The Braves touched St. Louis starter Sonny Gray for a run in the third on three consecutive two-out singles in the third. Nick Allen scored on Olson’s single off the wall in right field.

St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol was ejected in the bottom of the ninth. It was his fourth ejection this season.

Key moment

Winn’s hustle led to the St. Louis' first run. He walked and stole second base. With two outs, Victor Scott II hit a ball that bounced off Davis and caromed into vacant area between first and second. Winn never stopped at third and scampered home to score without a throw.

Key stat

Fermín is hitting .381 in nine games since his June 25 recall from Triple-A Memphis.

Up next

The Braves return to action Friday when they host the New York Yankees. The Cardinals return to play Friday at Arizona.

In summary

The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Atlanta Braves 5-3 on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at Busch Stadium. José Fermín's first career home run in the sixth inning broke a 3-3 tie, driving in the winning run. The game featured significant rain delays and saw key contributions from Matt Olson for the Braves and Willson Contreras for the Cardinals. Gordon Graceffo earned the win for St. Louis, and Ryan Helsley recorded his 19th save. The Cardinals are set to play at Arizona next, while the Braves will host the Yankees.

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