Crooks' Game-Winning Homer

Crooks' Eighth-Inning Blast Decides the Game

The Cardinals and Braves were locked at 1-1 heading into the eighth inning. That's when Crooks stepped up and launched his 405-foot home run to give St. Louis the lead, according to Gwinnett Daily Post. It was the decisive moment in a game that had already been stretched deep into the night by weather.

After Crooks gave St. Louis the lead, the Cardinals bullpen took over. Romero and O'Brien combined to hold Atlanta scoreless in the final innings, Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported. O'Brien earned his 23rd save of the season with the clean finish.

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Rain Delay Pushes Game Deep Into Saturday Morning

Heavy rain stopped the game at 8:02 p.m. local time. The delay lasted 2 hours and 44 minutes before play could resume, according to The Facts. By the time the final out was recorded, fans and players had endured a long, exhausting night at the ballpark.

Rain delays of nearly three hours are rare and can disrupt a team's pitching plans entirely. St. Louis managed the situation well, keeping its bullpen in order and still finding a way to win after the lengthy stoppage, Oskaloosa noted.

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Matt Olson Sets Braves Consecutive-Games Record

Despite the loss, the night brought a milestone for Atlanta first baseman Matt Olson. He played in his 741st straight game, breaking a franchise record that had stood since 1986, according to Rockdale Newton Citizen. Olson's iron-man streak is now the longest in Braves history.

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Cardinals Steal a Late Win in a Grinding Road Game

St. Louis had to grind for this one. The Cardinals scored just two runs on the night and needed a solo home run in the eighth to take the lead, Winnipeg Free Press reported. It was the kind of ugly, hard-fought road win that can matter a great deal in a tight pennant race.

Atlanta could not answer in the final innings. The Braves were held to just one run on the night, and their offense went quiet when it mattered most, according to Daily Gazette. St. Louis walks away with a 2-1 victory and a strong bullpen performance to build on.

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