Cubs Fall Short in Thrilling Route 66 Rivalry Against Cardinals
Cubs vs Cardinals: St Louis Takes Series in Nail-Biting Finale
The Cubs fought hard but ultimately fell 3-2 to the Cardinals in a dramatic rubber match of their three-game series. The game featured stellar pitching, clutch hits, and late-inning drama that lived up to the historic Cubs-Cardinals rivalry.
Pitching Duel Dominates Early Innings
The 13-year-old aspiring umpire, Bradley, is doing a great job out there tonight at Cubs-Cardinals! 👏 pic.twitter.com/e4hKwICSbb
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 10, 2025
Both starters delivered strong performances:
Shota Imanaga (Cubs) – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 7 Ks
Sonny Gray (Cardinals) – 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 8 Ks
The Cubs had early opportunities, loading the bases in the first, but failed to capitalize. Gray escaped trouble with key strikeouts, while Imanaga retired 14 straight at one point.
Cardinals Strike First, Cubs Answer Back
The scoring opened in the 3rd inning:
Pedro Pagés – Crushed a two-run homer (his 8th of the year) to give St. Louis the lead.
Matt Shaw (Cubs) – Responded with a game-tying two-run blast in the 5th after a Cardinals error extended the inning.
“Just like that, the Cubs answer back!” – Announcers praised Shaw’s clutch swing.
Late-Inning Heartbreak for the Cubs
I don’t want to be that “guy” but I’ve seen enough of this stupid umpire kid the last two days. ENOUGH ALREADY!#cubs pic.twitter.com/6rb7BNlUPj
— CUBS WORLD (@CubsWorld80) August 10, 2025
The Cardinals broke the tie in the 7th:
Jordan Walker – Single and stolen base
Nolan Gorman – Two-out RBI single to take the lead
The Cubs threatened in the 9th, putting the tying run in scoring position, but couldn’t deliver the big hit.
Key Takeaways for the Cubs
| Positive | Concern |
|---|---|
| Matt Shaw’s power surge continues | Missed early scoring chances |
| Imanaga’s strong start | Bullpen couldn’t hold the tie |
| Pete Crow-Armstrong’s speed (30th SB) | Struggles with RISP (1-for-7) |
What’s Next for the Cubs?
Geez Louise the Brewers have a six-game lead over the Cubs in the NL Central and a five-game lead over any other team in baseball with 45 to play. pic.twitter.com/VxSOKKs0Gz
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) August 11, 2025
With the loss, the Cubs drop to [current record]. The upcoming series against [next opponent] will be crucial for their playoff push.
Key questions:
Can the offense provide more consistent run support?
Will the bullpen stabilize in high-leverage spots?
