Busch hits a 3-run homer, Shaw adds a solo shot as the Cubs rout the Cardinals 9-1

Posted August 09, 2025 9:40 pm

By JEFF LATZKE

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch follows through on a three-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

ST. LOUIS — Michael Busch hit a 3-run home run, Matt Shaw added a homer and an RBI triple, and the Cubs routed the St. Louis Cardinals 9-1 Saturday night.

After getting shut out 5-0 in Friday's series opener, the Cubs built a 6-run lead against Andre Pallante (6-9) by the second inning.

Colin Rea (9-5) allowed one run in six innings, and Carson Kelly and Dansby Swanson each had three of Chicago’s 13 hits.

Busch set the tone by leading off the game with a double into the corner in right field, then scoring on Kyle Tucker’s RBI single. Tucker scored when right-fielder Jordan Walker’s throw got away from Willson Contreras, the cut-off man, on Kelly’s single.

In the second inning, Busch made it 5-0 by hitting his 22nd homer of the season — his sixth in eight games against St. Louis this season.

Busch hit four home runs during a three-game stretch when the Cardinals visited Wrigley Field last month, but he’d hit only three more in 25 games since.

Pallante allowed six runs on seven hits in 1 2/3 innings, his shortest outing in 53 career starts. He was pulled after Seiya Suzuki doubled and scored on Kelly’s RBI single.

Shaw tripled home Swanson in the third and added a 395-foot solo homer in the fifth that made it 9-0.

Lars Nootbaar doubled and scored the lone St. Louis run on Alec Burleson’s sixth-inning groundout.

The Cardinals played without All-Star second baseman Brendan Donovan, a late scratch due to left groin tightness, and Contreras was removed from the game after an infield single in the sixth.

Key moment

After Pallante allowed a single to Swanson and walked Shaw despite getting ahead 0-2, catcher Yohel Pozo visited the mound. Busch drove Pallante’s next pitch 374 feet into the stands in right field for a 5-0 Cubs lead.

Key stat

Busch has six home runs in 34 at-bats against St. Louis this season.

Up next

The Cubs send left-handed pitcher Shota Imanaga (8-4, 3.12 ERA) against Cardinals righty Sonny Gray (10-5, 4.21) in the series finale Sunday night on ESPN.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Chicago Cubs' Matt Shaw watches his solo home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Chicago Cubs' Seiya Suzuki (27) scores past St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yohel Pozo during the second inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Taylor Rogers throws during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

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