Sunday’s Game Report: Cardinals 11, Cubs 4
By Rob Rains
The Cardinals didn’t need a home run from Joshua Baez to beat the Cubs on Sunday at Wrigley Field.
After Baez hit three homers in his MLB debut on Saturday, the home runs on Sunday came from Jordan Walker and Alec Burleson, each of whom drove in four runs, to power the Cardinals’ offense.
Walker’s home run capped a six-run fourth inning that included a two-run single from Burleson. Burleson now has 90 RBIs for the season while Walker has driven in 88 runs.
It was the third time this season the Cardinals had two players with four or more RBIs, the second time it has happened on the road against the Cubs.
Both Walker and Burleson had a three-hit day, with Walker adding two doubles to his homer. His second double in the eighth drove in the Cardinals’ last two runs. Burleson had a single and double to go with his home run.
Baez was hitless in five at-bats, striking out three times.
Here is how Sunday’s game broke down:
At the plate: Burleson staked the Cardinals to a first-inning lead with his two-run homer, his 21st of the season … Back-to-back one-out walks sparked the big fourth inning with JJ Wetherholt also drawing a bases-loaded walk. Ivan Herrera hit a sacrifice fly in front of Burleson’s single and Walker’s homer, his 24th of the season … Blaze Jordan had two hits, one an RBI single in the second. Jimmy Crooks and Wetherholt also had two-hit days … The Cardinals drew five walks, four of whom later scored.
On the mound: The only runs off starter Hunter Dobbins over his five innings came on a two-run homer by Pete Crow-Armstrong. That was one of only two hits allowed by Dobbins, who had to pitch around four walks. He matched his career high with seven strikeouts, leaving the game after walking Alex Bregman leading off the sixth … The other Chicago runs scored in the eighth off Gordon Graceffo and in the ninth off Caleb Ferguson.
Key stat: This was the sixth game for Walker this season with four or more RBIs, the third time for Burleson. They both also had four RBIs in the July 3 game at Wrigley.
Worth noting: The Baseball Hall of Fame said on Twitter on Sunday that Baez was donating the cleats he wore on Saturday to the Hall. Baez had borrowed those cleats from Jordan … Former Cardinal catcher Carson Kelly pitched the ninth inning, giving up a two-out single to Crooks. It was his 10th career appearance on the mound … In their six games at Wrigley this season, the Cardinals outscored the Cubs 43-18. They won the season series against the Cubs, 7 games to 6.
Up next: The 11-game road trip continues on Monday with a day-night doubleheader in Cincinnati, the start of a five-game series. Quinn Mathews will be recalled from Memphis to start the day game and Andre Pallante is the scheduled starter for the night game.
Follow Rob Rain on X @RobRains
