Jimmy Crooks gave the Cardinals the edge they needed with a go-ahead solo home run in the bottom of the 8th inning against the Braves. The swing turned a 2-2 game into a lead for St. Louis and came in a tense late-game spot.
The blast was Crooks’ second home run, and it came on a sweeper at 83.0 mph with 2,582 rpm of spin. According to www.mlb.com, the ball left the bat at 102.7 mph, carried a 33-degree launch angle, and traveled 405 feet.
Late Inning Pressure Pays Off
The at-bat arrived with the game tied and no outs in the bottom half of the eighth, giving the Cardinals a chance to break through in a tight matchup. Crooks answered with a solo shot that changed the tone of the inning immediately.
That kind of swing is the difference in games that stay close deep into the night. In this case, the Cardinals needed one clean mistake from the Braves’ pitching to move in front, and Crooks made it count.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Matchup | Braves at Cardinals |
| Game Situation | Bottom 8th, 2-2, 0 outs |
| Pitch Type | Sweeper |
| Pitch Speed | 83.0 mph |
| Exit Velocity | 102.7 mph |
| Launch Angle | 33° |
| Hit Distance | 405 ft |
A Clean Contact Spike in a Big Spot
The hard-hit ball showed how quickly one swing can shift leverage in a matchup between two teams that had been locked together. The Cardinals were able to turn that contact into the lead run, and the timing made the moment even bigger.
With the inning still open and the score finally changed, Crooks’ home run stood out as the decisive play from the clip. The Cardinals had found their breakthrough in the bottom of the eighth, and it came from a solo shot that delivered exactly when they needed it most.
