Cubs Drop 3-2 to Cardinals Despite Shaw’s Clutch Homer

Rookie Matt Shaw’s hot streak continued with a game-tying homer, but the Cubs couldn’t close it out, falling 3-2 to the Cardinals in St. Louis.

The Chicago Cubs’ bid to clinch a crucial series victory over the St. Louis Cardinals came up just short on Sunday night at Busch Stadium. Rookie sensation Matt Shaw delivered another highlight-reel moment with a game-tying home run, but a late rally by the Cardinals, sparked by Nolan Gorman’s seventh-inning RBI single, sealed the Cubs’ 3-2 defeat. Despite a strong outing from starter Shota Imanaga and a late offensive push, the Cubs fell behind in the season series and missed an opportunity to gain ground in the National League Central. With playoff implications intensifying, Chicago’s narrow loss underscored both their resilience and their struggles to finish close games against divisional rivals.

Gorman Delivers Game-Winner for Cardinals

The decisive moment came in the bottom of the seventh inning with the score tied 2-2. After Cubs starter Shota Imanaga had retired 14 batters in a row, Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker broke the streak with a two-out single. Walker promptly stole second, setting the stage for Nolan Gorman, who lined a clutch single to right field, driving in the go-ahead run.

That hit ended Imanaga’s night, who had been in control for most of the game. The left-hander struck out nine batters, issued no walks, and allowed just four hits across 6 2/3 innings. Unfortunately for the Cubs, two of those hits proved costly — Pedro Pagés’ two-run homer in the third and Gorman’s decisive RBI.

While the Cardinals managed only four hits all night, they made them count. Gorman’s late-inning heroics handed the Cubs a loss in a tightly contested rivalry game and sealed the series win for St. Louis.

Shaw’s Power Surge Continues

If there’s a silver lining for the Cubs, it’s the continued emergence of Matt Shaw as a dangerous middle-of-the-order presence. In the top of the fifth, with the Cubs trailing 2-0, Shaw launched a two-run homer into the left-field bullpen, knotting the game and giving Chicago life.

The blast marked Shaw’s third home run in his last four games and his seventh since the All-Star break. Over that span, he has been one of MLB’s hottest hitters, posting a .333 average with a 1.110 OPS.

Shaw’s evolution at the plate has been dramatic since his early-season struggles. After starting the year in the majors, he was sent down to Triple-A Iowa for a month in April to refine his mechanics. Upon returning, Shaw showed flashes of his potential but endured another slump before making more adjustments to his stance, swing path, and timing.

“Matt’s always going to be a bit of a tinkerer mechanically,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “He’s finding what works for him, and right now, it’s producing results.”

Sonny Gray Shines in St. Louis

While Shaw’s bat stole headlines for Chicago, Sonny Gray was the night’s real star on the mound for the Cardinals. The veteran right-hander delivered a masterful seven-inning performance, limiting the Cubs to two runs on five hits while striking out seven and walking just one.

Gray’s ability to control the tempo of the game kept the Cubs’ offense in check outside of Shaw’s fifth-inning homer. His quick pickoff move in the fourth inning also thwarted a potential Cubs rally when he caught Pete Crow-Armstrong leaning at second base.

Gray’s impact this season has been undeniable. The Cardinals are now 18-6 in games he starts — the best team record for any pitcher with at least 20 starts in MLB this year. At home, that mark improves to an astounding 13-2.

Missed Chances Doom Cubs Late

Despite the narrow margin, the Cubs had multiple opportunities to tie or retake the lead in the late innings. In the eighth, they put runners on first and third with two outs, but reliever JoJo Romero induced a groundout to end the threat.

The ninth inning brought more drama. Ian Happ drew a leadoff walk, prompting manager Craig Counsell to send in Jon Berti as a pinch-runner. Berti attempted to steal second but was thrown out in a close play — a call that could have gone either way. The Cubs followed with back-to-back singles, putting the tying run in scoring position, but Shaw grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the game.

Counsell acknowledged the frustration but praised his team’s fight. “We had the chances we needed,” he said. “We just couldn’t get that last hit.”

Pedro Pagés’ Early Blast Sets the Tone

Before Shaw’s homer brought the Cubs back, the Cardinals built their early lead thanks to Pedro Pagés. In the third inning, after Thomas Saggese led off with a single, Pagés launched his eighth home run of the season — a two-run shot over the left-field wall.

Pagés, a young catcher still carving out his role, has shown flashes of power throughout the year. His ability to provide offense from the bottom of the order has been a bonus for St. Louis, particularly in close, low-scoring games like Sunday night’s matchup.

Key Stats from the Game

The Cubs-Cardinals matchup offered several telling numbers:

·        Gray’s dominance: Cardinals are now 13-2 in Gray’s home starts this season.

·        Shaw’s hot streak: Hitting .333 with a 1.110 OPS over the last 3½ weeks.

·        Imanaga’s efficiency: 6 2/3 innings, 9 strikeouts, no walks.

·        Cardinals’ efficiency: 4 hits, but 3 runs scored.

·        Cubs’ struggles in tight games: Dropped to 18-23 in one-run games.

Cubs’ Outlook Moving Forward

This loss leaves the Cubs six games behind the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers and adds pressure heading into their upcoming series against the Toronto Blue Jays. Chicago will send José Berríos (8-4, 3.89 ERA) to the mound in the opener, hoping to reverse their fortunes.

For the Cubs to stay in the playoff hunt, they’ll need to:

·        Continue riding the offensive momentum of players like Shaw.

·        Convert late-game opportunities into runs.

·        Get consistent quality starts from their rotation.

The road ahead is challenging, but with 40-plus games remaining, the race is far from over.

Conclusion

Sunday night’s loss to the Cardinals was another reminder of the thin margins that define MLB’s playoff race. The Cubs showed resilience, battled back from an early deficit, and nearly tied it in the ninth, but timely hitting from Nolan Gorman and lights-out pitching from Sonny Gray proved the difference.

For Chicago, the focus now shifts to capitalizing on their young talent, tightening execution in clutch moments, and making every game count as the postseason chase intensifies.