Murphy hits two long HRs, Braves beat Cardinals 6-5

[July 12, 2025]  ST. LOUIS (AP) — Sean Murphy hit the two longest home runs at Busch Stadium this season and the Atlanta Braves held on to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-5 on Friday night.
 
Murphy hit a 437-foot, two-run shot out to left-center field on an 0-2 pitch from Matthew Liberatore for a 3-0 lead in the first. Murphy fouled off seven pitches in a 13-pitch at-bat before hitting a 440-foot solo shot to center for a 5-2 advantage in the third. Murphy and Ronald Acuña Jr. both had three of the Braves' 12 hits.   

Atlanta Braves' Sean Murphy watches his solo home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Friday, July 11, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Enyel De Los Santos (3-2) got the win with two perfect innings following starter Grant Holmes, who allowed five runs and nine hits in three innings. Raisel Iglesias pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 10th save in 14 opportunities — and first since June 24 against the Mets.

Acuña hit the third pitch from Liberatore for a double and scored on Austin Riley's one-out single for the Braves' first run. Michael Harris II doubled and scored on Acuña's single for a 4-2 lead in the second. Jurickson Profar doubled following Murphy’s second homer and scored on a single by Drake Baldwin for a 6-2 advantage.

Brendan Donovan singled leading off the Cardinals' first against Grant Holmes. Alec Burleson had a one-out double to drive in the Cardinals' first run for a second straight day. Willson Contreras' RBI single cut it to 3-2.

Pedro Pagés had a two-out bases-loaded single in the third to drive in two and Victor Scott II followed with an RBI single to get the Cardinals to 6-5.

Atlanta third baseman Austin Riley left after three innings with what the team said was ‘abdominal tightness’.

Key moment
Burlson drew a walk leading off the seventh against Austin Cox before Contreras greeted replacement Rafael Montero with a single. Montero retired the next three to keep it 6-5.

Key stat
The Braves beat the Cardinals for the 1,000th time but trail by 106 wins in the all-time series — with 18 ties.

Up next
The Braves haven't announced a Saturday starter opposite Cardinals RHP Erick Fedde (3-9, 4.79 ERA).

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