In a disappointing turn of events for the St. Louis Cardinals, the team was shut out by the Chicago Cubs in a 3-0 loss at Busch Stadium, marking their second consecutive game without scoring a run. After a promising start to the series, the Cardinals went 22 innings without crossing the plate, ultimately splitting the four-game series with the Cubs, who maintained their 4 1/2-game lead in the division.
The Cardinals’ offense struggled significantly against Cubs starter Shoto Imanaga, who returned from the injured list to pitch five scoreless innings, allowing only one hit. Andre Pallante, the Cardinals’ starter, managed to limit the Cubs to two runs but faced challenges controlling the game, needing 94 pitches to complete five innings. The highlight for the Cardinals came in the ninth inning when Willson Contreras drew a walk and advanced to scoring position, but a series of three consecutive strikeouts ended any hopes of a comeback.
Tensions flared briefly when Contreras was hit by a pitch in the ninth, leading to a short exchange of words with Cubs pitcher Daniel Palencia, though it did not escalate further. The game featured an interesting milestone as Cubs first baseman Michael Busch hit the first home run by any player named Busch or Bush at Busch Stadium, adding to the Cubs’ tally.
In the eighth inning, the Cubs executed a successful double steal that added an insurance run, with Crow-Armstrong sliding home as part of a clever play that showcased their speed and strategy.
The Cardinals will look to regroup as they prepare for their next matchup against the Cubs in Chicago for the Fourth of July weekend. This rivalry series continues to be a pivotal point in the season as both teams vie for positioning in the division.
The Cardinals’ pitching showed some resilience, but the team will need to find their offensive rhythm to compete effectively in upcoming games. Encouragingly, despite this setback, the season is still young, and there remains ample opportunity for the Cardinals to bounce back and make a case for themselves as contenders.