Gorman helps Cards overcome Ozuna’s 2 homers for a 9-5 victory after Braves win doubleheader opener in 10

BY CHARLES ODUM

ATLANTA (AP) — Nolan Gorman hit a two-run home run in a four-run second inning and the St. Louis Cardinals overcame two homers from Marcell Ozuna to beat the Atlanta Braves 9-5 and avoid being swept in Saturday’s split doubleheader.

The Braves won the first game 3-2 when Ozzie Albies hit a sacrifice fly with one out in the 10th inning.

Sonny Gray (10-6) surrendered five runs and a career-high four homers, including two by Ozuna, in the second game. Gray struck out 10 and said his outing “felt great.”

“I’ve always said solo homers can’t beat you,” Gray said. “Unfortunately, I gave up four solo homers tonight and it was close.”

Ozuna hit his 28th in the sixthwhen Austin Riley and Eddie Rosario also a homerun. Rosario hit a two-run homerun in the first game.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Gray “did a good job handling that lineup” and that he rallied after a rough sixth inning to pitch a perfect seventh.

“It was important to find a way to get out in the last inning,” Marmol said.

Atlanta right-handed pitcher Bryce Elder (1-4) gave up six runs in five innings after being recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to serve as the 27th man for Game 2.

Elder fell behind 5-1 after giving up four runs in the second, when Alec Burleson drove in a run on Gorman’s 18th homer. Brandon Donovan added a homer in the fifth. Burleson drove in three runs on three hits.

The Braves saw a first-inning home run by Riley that seemingly scored two runs, but it was disallowed when the Cardinals successfully challenged. Upon review, the ball to right field was found to be an error.

In the season opener, Adam Duvall scored on a decisive fly ball from Albies to center field by Chris Roycroft (1-2).

Rosario hit a game-tying two-run homer for Atlanta in the seventh. His single and homer in Game 2 gave him hits in six of nine games since returning to the Braves on April 8 after starting the season with the Nationals. He said he heard fans chanting, “Eddie! Eddie!”

“I feel blessed,” Rosario said. “I want to thank Braves Country. I always love hearing my name.”

The Cardinals had a chance to take the lead in the top of the 10th, but fell short. With Pedro Pagés on third for St. Louis, Burleson lined into a double play by Pierce Johnson (3-1).

St. Louis right-handed pitcher Kyle Gibson allowed just three hits and one run in 6 2/3 innings before the Cardinals’ bullpen squandered a 2-0 lead.

Gibson was pulled from the game after giving up a single to Travis d’Arnaud with two outs in the seventh. Rosario then hit a home run off Ryan Fernandez.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Gibson was still in the game in the seventh inning on a “hitter-to-hitter” basis. “If he let a player go, I’d go get him,” Marmol said.

Nolan Arenado hit a home run for St. Louis.

Atlanta starter Charlie Morton allowed one run on six hits in six innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: Marmol said nagging hip stiffness influenced closer Ryan Helsley’s decision to skip the All-Star Game. Helsley, who leads the majors with 32 saves, was available Saturday. … RHP Kyle Leahy was added to the roster from Triple-A Memphis as the 27th man and threw two scoreless innings in the second game to earn his first save.

Braves: RHP Ian Anderson allowed six hits and four runs in 3 2/3 innings in his first rehab start for Triple-A Gwinnett, and his fifth minor league rehab start overall. Anderson is scheduled to return from Tommy John surgery in 2023.

NEXT ONE

Atlanta right-handed pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach (3-4, 4.43) will face right-handed pitcher Miles Mikolas (7-8, 5.13) in the final game of the series on Sunday.