Cardinals crushed by Cubs 11-3 on July 6, 2025, as Chicago hits a record 8 HRs. Miles Mikolas gives up 6 HRs in a historic Wrigley Field meltdown.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
There are bad losses, and then there's what happened at Wrigley Field on Saturday. The St. Louis Cardinals weren't just beaten; they were historically dismantled in an 11-3 rout by the Chicago Cubs. The game saw the Cubs launch a franchise-record eight home runs, turning the Friendly Confines into a nightmare for a Cardinals team now mired in a four-game losing streak.
Miles Mikolas set a new Cardinals franchise record, allowing six home runs in just the first three innings.
The onslaught was relentless. Michael Busch (3 HR, 5 RBIs) and Pete Crow-Armstrong (2 HR), both going 4-for-4, led the charge. For the Cardinals, the pain started and ended on the mound. Starter Miles Mikolas (4-6) was shelled, surrendering a franchise-record six home runs in just three innings. The offense was ghosted by Cubs starter Colin Rea for most of the game, with Brendan Donovan's solo shot in the fourth inning being the team's only hit through six frames. While it broke a frustrating 31-inning scoreless streak for the team, it was a drop in the ocean of a lopsided affair. Late RBIs from Lars Nootbaar and Pedro Pagés barely made a dent in the final score.
This four-game slide feels different. The pitching, a supposed strength, has been vulnerable, culminating in Mikolas's historic meltdown. The offense, despite flashes, remains inconsistent. With the team struggling to tread water, the question on every fan's mind is: what now? The current roster is being tested, and the cracks are showing. The reliance on veterans is being challenged, and the need for a spark—any spark—is becoming more desperate by the day.
While the big-league club struggles, the future offers some solace. The Cardinals' farm system, recently ranked a respectable 15th in MLB, is brimming with potential solutions. Right-hander Tekoah Roby, after an injury-riddled 2024, is back on track and could be a second-half rotation option. Catcher Rainiel Rodriguez has been tearing up the complex league, slashing .355/.494/.839 before a well-deserved promotion. With names like JJ Wetherholt, Thomas Saggese, and several arms in the updated MLB Top 100 list, help is on the way. The question is how soon the front office will be willing to turn to them.
The loss to the Cubs was a painful, perhaps necessary, wake-up call. The Cardinals are at a crossroads. With the MLB Draft and the July 31 trade deadline fast approaching, the front office has critical decisions to make. Will they trade from their prospect depth to acquire immediate help, or will they trust the kids to inject life into this team? The next few weeks will define the rest of the 2025 season and offer a glimpse into the Cardinals' long-term vision.
