Crow-Armstrong Dominates as Cubs Cruise Past Cardinals

The Chicago Cubs came to St. Louis on Saturday and reminded the Cardinals exactly why they’re contenders in the NL Central. Behind a masterful pitching performance from Ben Brown and an offensive barrage led by the absolutely unstoppable Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago absolutely dismantled Ryan Fernandez and a Cardinals lineup that looked utterly lost at the plate. Final score: Cubs 6, Cardinals 1. This wasn’t a game. This was a statement.

Brown’s Brilliance Breaks St. Louis Spirits

Ben Brown was nothing short of outstanding, tossing 7.0 innings of three-hit ball with just one earned run and six strikeouts. The Cardinals entered this contest hoping for a strong performance from their starter Ryan Fernandez, and instead got a complete disaster. Fernandez lasted just one inning, surrendering two walks and a strikeout in what might charitably be described as a catastrophe. By the time Fernandez was pulled, St. Louis was already playing catch-up, and the Cubs never looked back. Brown was surgical, efficient, and utterly dominant, striking out six Cardinals hitters who looked like they’d never seen a fastball before. This is championship-caliber pitching.

The Cardinals scraped together their lone run in the fourth inning when Alec Burleson singled to right, scoring JJ Wetherholt, who had somehow managed to get on base in a game where his team’s offense was completely neutered. Wetherholt went 3-for-4 on the day, one of the few bright spots for St. Louis. But one run doesn’t win ballgames, and it certainly doesn’t win them against a Cubs team playing this brand of opportunistic, relentless baseball.

Crow-Armstrong is Now Your NL Breakout Story

Pete Crow-Armstrong was a man possessed on Saturday, going 4-for-5 with a solo home run and driving in two runs. This isn’t a rookie anymore. This is a legitimate superstar in the making. His eighth-inning blast was an absolute moonshot, traveling 444 feet and landing in the right field seats with the authority of a hitter who knows exactly what he’s doing up there. Crow-Armstrong scored twice, drove in two runs, and made plays in the field that reminded everyone that he’s not just a hitter, he’s a five-tool talent who can impact the game in every conceivable way.

Michael Busch contributed early with an RBI single in the fifth, and then made his presence felt again in the sixth with a sacrifice fly that scored Dansby Swanson. Nico Hoerner added an RBI single in the sixth as well. The Cubs offense was methodical, patient, and absolutely relentless. Every hitter seemed to have a purpose at the plate, and more importantly, they executed.

This Saturday performance at Busch Stadium told you everything you need to know about where these two teams stand right now. The Cubs have the pitching, they have the bats, and most importantly, they have the swagger that comes with knowing you’re better than everybody else in the building. The Cardinals, meanwhile, looked lost and overmatched. In the competitive NL Central, that’s not a good look heading into June.