Monday’s Game Report: Cardinals 8, Cubs 2
By Rob Rains
It had been close to five years since the Cardinals had a game like they enjoyed Monday night in the opener of their four-game series against the division-leading Cubs at Busch Stadium.
That game against the Tigers on Sept. 10, 2020 was the last time the Cardinals hit four two-run homers and the blasts on Monday night sent them to the win over the Cubs.
Three of the homers came with two outs, from Lars Nootbaar, Brendan Donovan and Alec Burleson, before Nolan Gorman completed the barrage, all of which came in the span of 12 plate appearances between the fourth and sixth innings.
This was the first time in 2025 the Cardina had a four-homer game at home and was only their second of the year, with the other coming on April 30 at Cincinnati.
The four homers offered more than enough run support for Matthew Liberatore, who gave up just two runs over his seven innings.
Here is how Monday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: Nootbaar’s homer in the fourth followed a two-out double by Willson Contreras … In the fifth, Pedro Pages walked before Donovan connected for his two-out blast. Another walk, to Masyn Winn, came in front of Burleson’s homer … In the sixth, Nolan Arenado led off the inning with a single before Gorman’s homer … This is only the second time in 156 games between the Cardinals and Cubs since Busch Stadium 3 opened in 2006 that the Cardinals hit four home runs. The other game was on Sept. 26, 2017 … Contreras had three of their 11 hits, including a pair of doubles.
On the mound: Liberatore’s biggest pitch of the game came with one out in the fifth, after the Cubs had scored to make it a 2-1 game. They had the bases loaded with Ian Happ at the plate when Liberatore got him to ground into an inning-ending double play … Liberatore scattered six hits, walked one and struck out five … Riley O’Brien pitched the eighth inning and Roddery Munoz worked the ninth.
Key stat: The Cardinals were 8-of-14 with two outs in the game while the Cubs were just 2-of-9.
Worth noting: The Cardinals are now 25-15 at home this season … Munoz was recalled from Memphis to give the Cardinals a fresh arm in the bullpen. He replaced Gordon Graceffo, optioned back to the Triple A team, but Munoz’s stay is likely to be brief. The Cardinals will make a roster move on Tuesday to bring back Michael McGreevy from Memphis to get the start in the second game against the Cubs … The last time the Cardinals hit the four two-run homers in a game the hitters were Yadier Molina, Tyler O’Neill, Lane Thomas and Rangel Ravelo … In the latest round of voting for the All-Star game, the Cardinals have no players among the top four vote getters at their position. Their highest tracking player is Donovan, ranked fifth among NL second basemen.
Up next: McGreey will get the start on Tuesday night to give the other five starters an extra day of rest.
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