The Cubs demolished the Cardinals 11-3 on July 4, 2025, powered by Michael Busch's 3 HRs. Miles Mikolas struggled in the lopsided rivalry loss at Wrigley.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
The fireworks at Wrigley Field on July 4th were all for the home team. The St. Louis Cardinals, hoping to start a pivotal series on the right foot, were instead run off the field in an embarrassing 11-3 shellacking by the Chicago Cubs. A disastrous start from Miles Mikolas and an explosive Cubs offense left Cardinals fans with little to celebrate on Independence Day.
Michael Busch went 4-for-4 with three home runs and five RBI, single-handedly dismantling the Cardinals' pitching staff.
From the jump, this one felt out of reach. The Cubs' bats were relentless, led by a historic performance from Michael Busch, who blasted three homers, and Pete Crow-Armstrong, who added two of his own. The duo combined for nine RBI, more than triple the Cardinals' total run output. Starting pitcher Miles Mikolas (4-5) was hit hard and couldn't escape the onslaught, contributing to a final line of 11 runs on 13 hits for the beleaguered pitching staff. The Cardinals' defense and pitching had no answers, turning the holiday matchup into a spectator sport.
In a game with precious few silver linings, Brendan Donovan managed to provide one. His solo home run was a brief moment of defiance, but it was far from enough. The rest of the lineup was silent, managing just two other hits all game. Key bats like Masyn Winn went hitless, and while Alec Burleson drew two walks, the team couldn't string anything together, leaving the bases empty and the scoreboard stagnant. It was a frustrating display for a team that desperately needed its offense to show up.
While the big-league club struggles, there's exciting news brewing in the minor leagues. Top prospect JJ Wetherholt has officially cracked the top 20 in MLB Pipeline's latest prospect rankings. The 22-year-old shortstop is tearing up Double-A and is on the verge of a promotion to Triple-A Memphis. His selection to the Futures Game is a well-deserved honor, and it offers a tantalizing glimpse of a future star who could be in St. Louis as soon as next season. It's a crucial reminder that even in a slump, the organization's future remains bright.
This blowout loss isn't an isolated incident. It's the Cardinals' fourth straight defeat, coming on the heels of a demoralizing sweep at the hands of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Even ace Sonny Gray couldn't stop the bleeding in that series finale. Now sitting at 47-42, the Cardinals are in a skid that needs to be stopped immediately. This series against their arch-rivals was supposed to be a chance to reset, but Friday's performance only deepened the concerns.
The Cardinals have to wash this one away quickly. With two more games at Wrigley Field, they have a chance to salvage the series and stop this losing streak before it completely derails their season. The bats must wake up, and the pitching needs to find its footing. All eyes will be on Saturday's game to see if St. Louis can punch back or if the Cubs will continue to play spoiler. For now, the future looks brighter than the present, thanks to prospects like Wetherholt and a high pick in the upcoming draft.
