Cubs Shut Out Cardinals 8-0 to Halt Losing Streak

The Chicago Cubs decisively defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 8-0 on June 26, with Ian Happ leading the charge by hitting a home run on the first pitch and driving in three runs. Cubs starter Matthew Boyd delivered a strong performance, pitching six scoreless innings and allowing only three hits, while the Cardinals' starter Erick Fedde struggled, yielding seven runs in less than four innings. The Cubs' offense was highlighted by multiple home runs, including those by Reese McGuire and Kyle Tucker, and aggressive baserunning that contributed to their commanding lead. This victory ended a recent slump for the Cubs, who had lost three straight games prior and faced a tough 8-7 loss to the Cardinals the day before, a game marked by key errors and a high-scoring battle. Despite the Cardinals' strong recent form and home runs in prior games, their pitching faltered in this matchup, with reliever Garrett Hampson even pitching in the ninth inning during his debut as a Cardinals player. The win helped the Cubs maintain their lead in the NL Central as they continue to compete closely with the Cardinals and Brewers.