Chicago Cubs Crush St. Louis Cardinals 9-1 Behind Michael Busch and Matt Shaw Home Runs on August 9, 2025

Saturday, August 9th, 2025

Chicago Cubs Dominate St. Louis Cardinals 9-1 in NL Central Showdown

The Chicago Cubs bounced back in dominant fashion on Saturday night, delivering a 9-1 rout over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. The Cubs’ offense erupted early and never looked back, while strong pitching shut down St. Louis for most of the game.

Cubs Offense Ignites Early

Chicago wasted little time taking control after being shut out 5-0 in the series opener. Michael Busch set the tone with a leadoff double in the first inning before scoring on Kyle Tucker’s RBI single. The Cubs continued to pour it on as Carson Kelly’s single brought in another run, thanks to a St. Louis defensive miscue.

The Cubs opened a six-run lead by the second inning. Busch delivered the biggest blow with a three-run homer—his 22nd of the season and sixth against the Cardinals this year. Matt Shaw added an RBI triple in the third and launched a solo home run in the fifth, pushing the Cubs’ advantage to 9-0.

Pitching Excellence from Colin Rea

Colin Rea (9-5) provided the Cubs with six strong innings, surrendering just one run and helping keep the Cardinals’ hitters in check. St. Louis struggled to mount a comeback, as Chicago’s pitching staff limited the damage and protected the lead throughout the contest.

Struggles for St. Louis

The Cardinals were unable to recover after a rough start for Andre Pallante (6-9), who allowed six runs on seven hits in just 1 2/3 innings—his shortest outing in 53 career starts. St. Louis managed only one run, with Lars Nootbaar doubling and scoring on Alec Burleson’s groundout in the sixth.

Further complicating matters, St. Louis played without All-Star second baseman Brendan Donovan, who was scratched late due to left groin tightness. Catcher Willson Contreras was removed after an infield single in the sixth inning.

Key Moment

A pivotal moment came in the second inning when, following a mound visit after back-to-back baserunners, Michael Busch blasted a 374-foot three-run homer, turning the lead to 5-0 and breaking the game open for Chicago.

Key Stat

Michael Busch has now hit six home runs in 34 at-bats against the Cardinals this season, establishing himself as a true nemesis for St. Louis pitching.

Up Next

The series wraps up on Sunday, with the Cubs set to send left-hander Shota Imanaga (8-4, 3.12 ERA) to the mound against Cardinals right-hander Sonny Gray (10-5, 4.21 ERA).

In Summary

The Chicago Cubs surged past the St. Louis Cardinals 9-1, fueled by a potent offense led by Michael Busch’s three-run homer and Matt Shaw’s impressive night at the plate. Colin Rea turned in a quality start, and the Cubs capitalized on a struggling Cardinals pitching staff. With a strong showing both offensively and defensively, the Cubs evened the series and set the stage for a pivotal Sunday finale in St. Louis. This victory strengthens the Cubs’ position in the NL Central race, while the Cardinals face questions heading into the last matchup of this key series.

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