Cardinals' Dominant Shutout

Leahy Dominates in Tricky Fog-Filled Conditions

Kyle Leahy was efficient and effective against the Cubs. He threw just 77 pitches across five innings. He gave up three hits but kept Chicago off the board entirely. Six strikeouts showed he had good command of his pitches even as players on both sides struggled to see the ball through the fog, according to News Observer.

Cubs starter Shota Imanaga was not as fortunate. He gave up four hits and two runs in four and two-thirds innings before being pulled. St. Louis had taken a 2-0 lead off Imanaga, giving their bullpen all the cushion they needed, Charlotte Observer reported.

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Cardinals Add an Insurance Run in the Eighth

St. Louis was not done after the first two runs. The Cardinals pushed across one more run in the eighth inning to make it 3-0. That insurance run put the game out of reach. Chicago's offense never got going against the Cardinals' pitching staff, Macon.com reported.

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Cardinals Riding a Surge Heading Into Summer

St. Louis has now won five of their last six games. That kind of run can quickly shift a team's standing in a tight division race. The Cardinals have been getting contributions from their pitching staff and lineup during this stretch, according to The Olympian.

For the Cubs, the loss adds to growing frustrations. Chicago has struggled to generate offense in recent outings. Being shut out 3-0 at home, with their ace-caliber starter Imanaga unable to last five full innings, is a tough outcome, Kentucky.com noted.

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