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Cardinals 5-3 Over Braves After Velazquez 444-Foot Homer

7/1/2026

47 8 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Nelson Velázquez hit a 444-foot solo homer that sparked a four-run fourth inning, giving the St. Louis Cardinals a 5-3 win over the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on June 30, 2026.
Matthew Liberatore struck out nine batters in five innings while allowing one run on one hit.
The loss was the Braves’ 13th defeat in 17 games, shrinking their NL East lead to 2½ games over the Philadelphia Phillies.

History

Historical Context

Roger Maris’s 61-home-run surge in 1961, achieved after the American League expanded its schedule to 162 games, proved that power hitting could reshape fan interest and league economics. That milestone, following Babe Ruth’s 60-home-run record, set a precedent for later marquee blasts—such as the long homers that still drive attendance and postseason races in MLB today.

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Story summary

Nelson Velázquez hit a 444-foot solo homer that sparked a four-run fourth inning, giving the St. Louis Cardinals a 5-3 win over the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on June 30, 2026.
Matthew Liberatore struck out nine batters in five innings while allowing one run on one hit.
The loss was the Braves’ 13th defeat in 17 games, shrinking their NL East lead to 2½ games over the Philadelphia Phillies.

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