St. Louis Cardinals Defeat Milwaukee Brewers 5-1 as Brewers Clinch NL Central Despite Loss – Game Recap & Highlights (Sept. 21, 2025)

Sunday, September 21st, 2025

St. Louis Cardinals Defeat Milwaukee Brewers 5-1

The St. Louis Cardinals secured a 5-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, thanks to a powerful two-run homer by Iván Herrera and a three-RBI performance from José Fermín. While the Brewers lost the game, they still clinched the NL Central title later, following the Chicago Cubs’ narrow 1-0 defeat to the Cincinnati Reds.

Strong Pitching Paves the Way for St. Louis

Matthew Liberatore showcased his pitching prowess by striking out six batters over five innings and allowing only one run. The bullpen, with Matt Svanson, Ryan Fernandez, and Riley O’Brien, contributed four scoreless innings to shut down the Brewers' offense.

Herrera and Fermín Drive the Offense

Iván Herrera launched a massive 419-foot home run over the left-field bullpen in the third inning off Brewers starter Robert Gasser, who was making his MLB season debut after coming up from Triple-A. While the Cardinals recorded only three hits, they capitalized on seven walks, turning opportunities into runs.

Erick Fedde, returning to Busch Stadium for the first time since his trade to Atlanta, struggled with command, walking the first two batters and surrendering a two-run double to José Fermín that extended St. Louis’ lead to 4-0. Fermín also added an RBI by walking with the bases loaded in the eighth.

Brewers’ Offense Held Back

Milwaukee’s lone run came in the fifth inning when Joey Ortiz tripled and scored on Jackson Chourio’s sacrifice fly. The Brewers were without William Contreras, who left the previous game with a hand injury. Christian Yelich and Brice Turang also sat out the starting lineup but appeared as pinch hitters later in the contest.

Key Moment

Before the first pitch, Nolan Arenado was removed from the game and acknowledged a cheering crowd. The Cardinals had attempted to trade Arenado in the offseason, but he remains with St. Louis and has two years left on his contract.

Key Stat

Matthew Liberatore has now allowed only two earned runs in 22 innings over four career starts against the Brewers, underscoring his dominance over Milwaukee's lineup.

Up Next

The Brewers send Freddy Peralta (17-6, 2.65 ERA) to the mound as they begin a three-game road set against the San Diego Padres, who have yet to announce their starting pitcher. Meanwhile, the Cardinals start their season-ending road trip as Michael McGreevy (7-3, 4.08 ERA) faces Justin Verlander (3-10, 3.75 ERA) and the San Francisco Giants.

In summary

The St. Louis Cardinals capitalized on timely hitting and a strong pitching performance to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1. Iván Herrera’s home run and José Fermín’s RBIs led the offense, while Matthew Liberatore continued his mastery over Milwaukee. Despite the loss, the Brewers clinched the NL Central shortly after, setting the stage for upcoming pivotal series for both teams as they look ahead to the postseason and the conclusion of the regular season.

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St. Louis Cardinals Defeat Milwaukee Brewers 5-1 as Brewers Clinch NL Central Despite Loss – Game Recap & Highlights (Sept. 21, 2025)