The Chicago Cubs currently hold a 32-27 record and sit three games back of first place in the NL Central. Over the last 24 hours, the club secured a resounding 6-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals behind a stellar start from Ben Brown and a four-hit night from Pete Crow-Armstrong.
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MLB Game Recap
The Cubs defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 on Saturday night. This evened the series at one game apiece in front of a capacity crowd at Busch Stadium. Starting pitcher Ben Brown earned the win (2-2) by tossing 7.0 innings of three-hit ball, allowing only one earned run while striking out six. Chicago took a permanent lead in the sixth inning. An RBI single from Nico Hoerner and a sacrifice fly from Michael Busch secured the lead. The bullpen duo of Jacob Webb and Daniel Palencia provided two scoreless frames. This sealed the win.
Standout Performer
Pete Crow-Armstrong delivered a statement performance, finishing 4-for-5 with two runs, two RBIs, a double, and a home run. His most significant contribution was a 444-foot solo home run in the eighth inning that left the bat at 114.6 mph, followed by a diving catch in left-center field for the game’s final out. The breakout night marked his first four-hit game of the season and silenced a hostile St. Louis crowd that had been booing him throughout the evening.
Key News & Notes
Ben Brown has now pitched 51.1 consecutive innings without allowing a home run, which is currently the longest active streak in the Major Leagues. Manager Craig Counsell noted a key factor in Brown’s breakout 2026 campaign. Brown added pitches to his arsenal. This addition prevents hitters from anticipating his approach. Counsell highlighted Ian Happ’s “incredible” performance over the last four days. However, he rejected the notion that the roster is inherently “streaky”. On the farm, the organization continues to monitor Moises Ballesteros. Counsell emphasized that the young hitter is currently learning to adjust. He is figuring out how the league is attacking him “north-south” in the strike zone.
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Farm Report
- AAA Iowa Cubs: Lost 14-5 to Indianapolis. Owen Miller finished 1-for-4 with two runs scored. He also had two stolen bases. The Iowa pitching staff struggled to contain the Indians.
- AA Tennessee Smokies: Won 7-5 against Chattanooga. Alex Ramírez continued his strong season. He went 2-for-4 with a home run and a double.
- High-A South Bend Cubs: Won 7-0 over Fort Wayne. Drew Bowser launched a grand slam for his third home run of the season. Mason McGwire earned the save with six strikeouts over 3.0 one-hit innings.
- Low-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans: Won 7-5 against Wilmington. Geuri Lubo led the comeback with a three-run home run in the eighth inning. This secured the victory.
- ACL Cubs: Won 4-0 over ACL D-backs; reliever Emilio Ramos earned the hold with a dominant 3.0-inning performance, allowing just two hits and striking out five.
Emilio Ramos
Looking Ahead
The Cubs look to win the series tonight in St. Louis with Jordan Wicks (0-1, 16.62 ERA) making his second start of the season. He will face Cardinals left-hander Matthew Liberatore (2-3, 4.76 ERA) in the series finale.
The Cubs finally resemble their early-season form. This is due to the youth movement led by Pete Crow-Armstrong and Ben Brown.
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