ST. LOUIS, MO – The fierce rivalry between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs ignited with a thunderous display of power on Monday evening, June 23, 2025. The Cardinals lit up Busch Stadium with a season-best four home runs, pummeling the division-leading Cubs in a dominant 8-2 victory that sent a clear message across the National League Central.
The offensive explosion began with Lars Nootbaar launching his 10th home run of the season in the bottom of the fourth inning, a two-run shot that followed a Willson Contreras double, giving St. Louis an early 2-0 lead. While the Cubs managed to cut the lead to 2-1 in the fifth inning on a Carson Kelly single after a Pete Crow-Armstrong double, their rally was abruptly halted when Ian Happ grounded into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded.
The Cardinals swiftly capitalized on Chicago’s missed opportunity in the bottom of the fifth. Brendan Donovan hammered his fifth homer of the season, a two-run blast, followed just two batters later by Alec Burleson who connected for his ninth, also a two-run shot. The consecutive two-run homers stretched St. Louis’s lead to a commanding 6-1, effectively sealing the fate of the game. The power parade culminated with Nolan Gorman adding another two-run homer later in the game.
On the mound, Matthew Liberatore (5-6) delivered a stellar performance for the Cardinals, stifling the Cubs’ offense over seven strong innings. He allowed just two runs on six hits while striking out five, earning the win and showcasing the Cardinals’ pitching depth.
For the Cubs, right-hander Ben Brown (4-6) endured a tough night, surrendering all eight runs on nine hits over five innings. In relief, Michael Fulmer, whose contract was just purchased from Triple-A Iowa prior to the game, provided a much-needed clean performance, tossing two scoreless innings.
Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras had a particularly impactful night against his former team, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored, continuing his strong historical performance against the Cubs.
The victory marked the Cardinals’ sixth win in their last seven games, signaling a strong surge, while the Cubs, despite holding onto their first-place position in the NL Central with a 46-31 record, have now dropped four of their last five. This dominant performance by St. Louis serves as a significant statement in the ongoing divisional race, promising an even more intense rivalry as the season progresses.