Cardinals Soar Past Cubs with 5-1 Victory, Liberatore Shines on the Mound

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI - MAY 31: Masyn Winn #0 of the St. Louis Cardinals delivers a two-run single against the Chicago Cubs during the third inning at Busch Stadium on May 31, 2026. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images)

In a much-needed win, the St. Louis Cardinals showcased their offensive prowess and solid pitching, defeating the Chicago Cubs 5-1 at Busch Stadium on Sunday. This victory marks a bright spot in a season that has seen its share of struggles for the Cardinals. With baseball legend Albert Pujols in the broadcast booth, the atmosphere was electric as the team clinched the series.

The Cardinals wasted no time jumping ahead, initiating the game with three consecutive hits in the first inning from JJ Wetherholt, Iván Herrera, and Jordan Walker. Walker’s single brought Wetherholt home, granting St. Louis an early 1-0 lead. Following a fielder's choice that saw Herrera score, the Cardinals doubled their advantage to 2-0, creating a promising start.

The offensive momentum continued in the third inning. After Wetherholt and Herrera both singled, Alec Burleson’s clutch hit drove in Wetherholt. Masyn Winn followed suit with a single that scored two more runs, pushing the score to 5-0. Meanwhile, pitcher Matthew Liberatore delivered an impressive outing, going 5 1/3 innings without allowing a run, giving up just three hits while striking out four and walking one before being relieved by Hunter Dobbins.

Dobbins faced some pressure when Cubs' Alex Bregman hit a home run, putting Chicago on the board at 5-1. However, he quickly regained his composure, striking out two batters and successfully closing out the sixth inning. Despite both teams having opportunities in the seventh, neither could capitalize, and Dobbins managed to hold the Cubs at bay for the remainder of the game.

With this win, the Cardinals look forward to their next matchup against the Texas Rangers, set for Monday evening. Michael McGreevy will take the mound for St. Louis, while Jacob deGrom will pitch for Texas. Fans are excited to welcome back former player Skip Schumaker, adding to the anticipation. The game is scheduled to start at 6:45 PM central time with coverage available on Cardinals.tv.