Tough Day for the Cardinals in Chicago 
Well, Cards fans, it was a tough one to swallow today as we took on the Cubs at Wrigley Field and ended up on the losing side with a final score of 1-5. The game started with promise but quickly turned sour. Let’s recap the game and highlight some key moments.
Early Innings Struggles 
The first three innings saw both teams struggling to get anything going. Masyn Winn and Paul Goldschmidt each struck out, while Alec Burleson lined out to left all in the top of the first inning. Meanwhile, Andre Pallante did a good job keeping the Cubs at bay by retiring their first three batters – Mike Tauchman, Christopher Morel, and Cody Bellinger.
Cardinals Take the Lead! 
Things started to look up in the 4th inning. Nolan Arenado singled to right, moving Alec Burleson to third after his double, and then came through with a sacrifice fly that allowed Burleson to score, giving us a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately, our joy was short-lived.
The Cubs Respond in the Bottom of the 4th 
The bottom of the 4th inning was where things began to unravel for the Cardinals. Cody Bellinger and Seiya Suzuki both singled, followed by a fielding error by our pitcher that allowed the Cubs to tie the game. Dansby Swanson then grounded out, but another run scored, putting the Cubs up 2-1.
Stranded Opportunities and a Big Blow 
We had a few glimmers of hope, like when Nolan Arenado got hit by a pitch in the 7th inning and Ivan Herrera followed up with a single. Unfortunately, those efforts were in vain as subsequent batters couldn't bring them home. The 7th inning also saw Ian Happ deliver a crushing blow with a three-run homer off Blake King, extending the Cubs' lead to 5-1.
Final Attempts and Closing Out
In the 9th inning, we still had a sliver of hope but it just wasn't our night. Paul Goldschmidt struck out swinging, while Nolan Arenado and Nolan Gorman could not get the ball past the infield. It was a tough way to close out the game, and the final score stood at 5-1 in favor of the Cubs.
Looking Forward 
There were some promising moments today but we couldn’t capitalize when it mattered most. It’s crucial for the team to regroup and focus on the next game. Let’s continue to support our boys and hope for a better result next time.
Chin up, Cards fans! Better days are ahead.
Go Cards!
Scoreboard for Cardinals @ Cubs (June 15th, 2024)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 |