Wetherholt's Game-Winner
Rookie Wetherholt Powers Cardinals Past Cubs 3-0 at Foggy Wrigley for Third Straight Win
Rookie JJ Wetherholt homered and collected three hits to power the St. Louis Cardinals past the Chicago Cubs 3-0 at Wrigley Field on Saturday, giving St. Louis its third straight win. The game was played through thick fog that caused a 15-minute delay after the sixth inning, according to AP News.
The victory pulls the Cardinals to within a half-game of second-place Chicago in the NL Central standings. The two teams wrap up their series on Sunday.
Wetherholt Shines With Home Run and Double
Wetherholt, a Cardinal rookie, was the clear star of the game. He hit a home run, added a double, and finished with three hits total. His performance set the tone for a Cardinals offense that did not need much to win, Newsday reported.
Ivan Herrera and Alec Burleson each drove in two runs to round out the Cardinals' attack. St. Louis scored all three of its runs without needing a big inning, keeping steady pressure on the Cubs all night.
Kyle Leahy Shuts Down Cubs for Five Innings
Starting pitcher Kyle Leahy was solid on the mound, going five innings for St. Louis. He held the Cubs scoreless and gave the Cardinals' bullpen a chance to close things out. Chicago's offense never got going against him, according to AP News.
The Cubs could not find a way to score all night. They were held to a shutout loss at home, making it a rough night for Chicago in front of its own fans at Wrigley Field.
Fog Rolls In and Halts Play After the Sixth
Thick fog settled over Wrigley Field as the game went on. After the sixth inning, umpires stopped play for 15 minutes while the fog was evaluated. It was an unusual scene at one of baseball's most famous ballparks, News-Gazette reported.
The delay did not seem to slow down St. Louis. The Cardinals held on after play resumed and finished the shutout. Fog-related delays are rare in Major League Baseball, making Saturday's game a memorable one for fans in attendance.
Cardinals Creep Closer in the NL Central Race
With the win, the Cardinals now sit just half a game behind the second-place Cubs in the NL Central. St. Louis entered the weekend in third place. Three straight wins have changed the mood around the team quickly, according to AP News.
The two clubs will meet again Sunday in the final game of the series. A Cardinals win would put even more pressure on Chicago. A Cubs win would push St. Louis back and help Chicago protect its standing in the division.
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