The Chicago Cubs continued their winning streak with a dominant 5-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night. The Cubs were led by a strong pitching performance from Kyle Hendricks, who threw seven shutout innings, allowing only five hits and one walk while striking out three. This win marks the Cubs’ fifth straight victory and improves their record to 2-7.
Hendricks, who has a career record of 14-4 against the Cardinals, has been particularly effective against them this season, throwing 11 1/3 scoreless innings. The Cubs’ bullpen also played a key role in securing the win, with relievers Luke Little, Mark Leiter Jr., and Hector Neris combining to close out the game.
Offensively, Nico Hoerner and David Bote were the standouts for the Cubs, each driving in two runs. Miles Mastrobuoni also contributed to the scoring, crossing the plate twice in the game. St. Louis starter Sonny Gray struggled, allowing three runs on nine hits in seven innings as the Cardinals suffered their third consecutive loss.
The Cubs utilized small ball tactics to take an early lead, scoring runs in the third, fourth, and seventh innings. They extended their lead in the eighth inning off Cardinals relievers Chris Roycroft and John King, ultimately securing the 5-1 victory.
The Cardinals managed to break through against Cubs reliever Hunter Bigge in the ninth inning, ending Chicago’s scoreless streak at 32 1/3 innings. However, Hector Neris came in to close out the game, striking out Lars Nootbaar with the bases loaded to secure the win for the Cubs.
With this victory, the Cubs continue to climb in the standings and showcase their potential as contenders in the league. Their strong pitching, timely hitting, and solid defense have been key factors in their recent success, and they will look to carry this momentum into future games.
Overall, it was a well-rounded team effort from the Cubs as they outplayed the Cardinals in all facets of the game to secure a convincing win on the road. As the season progresses, the Cubs will aim to build on this performance and continue their winning ways as they push for a playoff spot.
