WRIGLEY FIELD, CHICAGO — It seemed like the Chicago Cubs had it all. With a 5–3 lead, a home field full of momentum and all the bases in the game, victory seemed like a matter of time.
But then—the St. Louis Cardinals exploded in the eighth inning. A relentless strikeout streak, a crazy pinch-hit home run, and a clear statement: “We’re not done yet.”
Pozo Becomes Unexpected Hero
Yohel Pozo, a name few would have noticed on the lineup, became a hero with a three-run home run as a substitute, silencing the nearly 40,000 people at Wrigley Field. It was the final blow, turning the game from 5–3 to 8–5, and leaving the Cubs stunned.
Earlier, Alec Burleson had fired a solo homer, and Nolan Gorman followed with a crucial RBI single—a morale-sapping blow before Pozo delivered the knockout blow.
Busch shines, but not enough
For the Cubs, Michael Busch was another rare bright spot with three hits, including a home run. Carson Kelly also contributed a shot out of the infield, helping the Cubs take the lead.
But the rest of the team was in a tailspin. Brad Keller, who had been given the credit in the eighth, was devastated after giving up five runs in a single inning.
“It was a tough loss,” manager David Ross admitted. “We had the momentum, we had the momentum, we had the advantage… and then it was all taken away in a couple of hits.”
Cardinals send a strong message
Bullpen leader Ryan Helsley closed out the game with his 17th save of the season, showing the Cardinals’ coolness at key moments.
Steven Matz was credited with the win, although much of the work went to solid starter Matthew Liberatore.
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol was confident after the game:
“This is more than just a win. This is a statement that we’re back in the race.”
Notable Stats:
Cardinals: 3 home runs (Burleson, Gorman, Pozo)
Cubs: 2 home runs (Busch, Kelly)
Keller (Cubs): Lost by 5 runs in 1 inning
Pozo: 1 hit, 3 RBI off the bench – Pinch hit of the game
The win helped the Cardinals close the gap in the NL Central, while the Cubs lost momentum after an impressive winning streak. With a lot of intra-divisional games on the schedule, this could be a major psychological turning point.
The Cardinals didn’t just win—they sent a message to the league: don’t write them off just yet.