Bregman's double seals cubs' late win over cardinals
A 10th-inning double from Alex Bregman punctuated a tense victory for the Chicago Cubs, 4-2, over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night. It’s a win that solidified a crucial three-game sweep for the Cubs, a testament to their recent, and frankly, opportunistic, surge.
A late-inning rally and a crucial hit
The game remained a frustratingly tight affair for much of the evening. Javier Assad, pitching with a controlled intensity for the Cardinals, held the Cubs to just six hits and one run through 4 1/3 innings. But Michael Busch’s single in the seventh, capitalizing on a throwing error by Lars Nootbaar, tied the score at 2-2 – a moment that momentarily disrupted the Cardinals’ momentum.
Then, Bregman stepped up. With one out and the pressure mounting, he delivered a line-drive double that scored Ian Happ, effectively ending the contest. It’s a performance that highlights the value of a player capable of seizing a critical opportunity, a hallmark of this Cubs team.
Cardinals’ rally falls short
Andre Pallante, despite pitching six and a third solid innings, was pulled after Dansby Swanson’s walk. JJ Wetherholt’s solo home run in the seventh had briefly given the Cardinals a glimmer of hope, but Bregman’s hit extinguished that spark. The Cardinals’ offense simply couldn’t sustain the pressure, a recurring issue that’s been simmering beneath the surface.
Jacob Webb and Aaron Civale were instrumental in securing the win for Chicago, showcasing a resilience that’s been noticeably absent from the team’s earlier struggles. Nico Hoerner, with three hits, contributed steadily throughout the game – a small but significant piece of the puzzle.
Box score highlights
Chicago Cubs: Alex Bregman (9-18, 1 RBI), Ian Happ (2-4), Javier Assad (4 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 6 H), Aaron Civale (Save).
St. Louis Cardinals: JJ Wetherholt (1-4, HR), Andre Pallante (6 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 7 H), Bryan Torres (1-4, RBI).
Looking ahead
The Cubs’ improved extra-inning record – now 9-6 – is a statistic to watch, and the Cardinals’ struggles are a clear area of concern. Friday’s matchups pit Chicago’s Shota Imanaga against Will Warren of the New York Yankees, while the Cardinals face Toronto’s Dylan Cease. It’s going to be interesting to see if either team can quickly right the ship.