8 standouts from St. Louis Cardinals sweep of Chicago Cubs

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The St. Louis Cardinals put on a show against the Chicago Cubs to grow their lead over the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central race.

The Cardinals swept the Cubs this weekend in St. Louis, bringing their lead over the Brewers to 8.5 games. The Cardinals won Friday 8-0, Saturday 8-4, and Sunday 8-0.

The Cardinals will take on the Washington Nationals in a four-game set starting today. Jack Flaherty will start Monday in his first outing since June 26. The team has been pleased with his progress since shutting things down in June. Having a healthy Flaherty through the season’s final weeks could be just what the pitching staff needs.

In this series, the Cardinals had several players step up and battle for their team. It’s been fun to see which player steps up for the Cardinals each game. Sometimes, it’s someone new, and sometimes a legend wowing the crowd one more time.

Albert Pujols has an epic final at-bat against Cubs

In the bottom of the eighth inning Sunday, Albert Pujols entered the game as a pinch hitter for Lars Nootbaar in what would be his final at-bat against the Cubs.

Pujols did not disappoint.

Can't stop watching 🥹 pic.twitter.com/bHWS4T17DV
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 4, 2022

Pujols hit his 16th home run of the season and the 695th of his Hall of Fame career. The blast traveled 429 feet at 105.7 mph off Cubs reliever Brandon Hughes after a visit from manager David Ross. Whatever was said did not work to the Cubs’ benefit. Tommy Edman scored on the Pujols homer after he doubled on a sharp liner to left field.

While Pujols’ home run was the lone scoring the Cardinals received Sunday, the team had several standouts over the weekend series. Let’s take a look at those standouts.

Starter Adam Wainwright #50 of the St. Louis Cardinals delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium on September 3, 2022 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Scott Kane/Getty Images) /

Pitchers who stood out for the Cardinals

Jordan Montgomery

Now 8-3 on the season, Montgomery pitched six innings for the Cardinals Friday. He gave up seven hits and walked two. He struck out four batters while inducing 10 swings and misses. Jordan Hicks had a great outing, pitching the seventh inning. He earned his sixth home of the season while striking out three batters while inducing three swings and misses.

Chris Stratton pitched two innings, striking out two batters.

Adam Wainwright

Wainwright and Yadier Molina had their 323rd start together, inching closer to breaking the record of 324 starts set by Detroit Tigers’ battery Mickey Lolich and Bill Freehan. Wainwright earned his 10th victory, going five innings, giving up nine hits, two walks, and four earned runs. He struck out two batters while inducing five swings and misses.

Four pitchers pitched masterfully in relief of Wainwright so he could get that win. Andre Pallante pitched an inning, giving up a hit. Jake Woodford pitched an inning, striking out one. Jojo Romero pitched an inning, walking one. Giovanny Gallegos pitched an inning, striking out one.

It was positive to see the relievers do an excellent job in relief, keeping the Cardinals in it to win it.

Miles Mikolas

Mikolas looked sharp in his eight innings of work Sunday, earning his 11th win of the season. He only gave up two hits and one walk while striking out three batters and inducing eight swings and misses. Mikolas needed this confidence-building outing as the Cardinals head into the season’s final weeks.

After pitching the ninth inning, Ryan Helsley earned his 13th save. He walked one and struck out one while inducing three swings and misses.

Ron ‘Pop’ Warner #75 congratulates Lars Nootbaar #21 of the St. Louis Cardinals. (Photo by Scott Kane/Getty Images) /

Hitters who stood out for the Cardinals

Tyler ONeill

O’Neill got things going for the Cardinals in the first inning Friday. He singled on a liner to left field, scoring Brendan Donovan and Paul Goldschmidt. O’Neill scored on a single from Corey Dickerson to right field.

Lars Nootbaar

Nootbaar is quite the spark plug for the Cardinals. He sparked things up in the seventh inning with his 11th home run on a fly to center field, scoring Yadier Molina. The home run traveled 412 feet at 104 mph.

Tommy Edman

In the eighth inning of Friday’s game, Edman knocked his 12th home run on a liner to left field, scoring September call-up Ben DeLuzio and Yadier Molina. The homer traveled 381 feet at 104.6 mph.

In the third inning of the Saturday game, Tommy Edman hit homer 13 on a fly to right-center field off Drew Smyly. The homer traveled 391 feet at 104.8 mph. Tyler O’Neill made things exciting going back to back with Edman as he knocked his 13th homer of the season on a fly to left field. The homer went 423 feet at 104.4 mph.

Seeing Edman get some meaningful moments with the Cardinals down the stretch after a season filled with struggles is excellent.

Paul Goldschmidt

In Saturday’s first inning, Goldschimdit knocked his 34th home run of the season on a liner to right field, scoring Tyler O’Neill. The homer traveled 375 feet at 104.4 mph. After going through a sluggish phase during the past week, it was good to see Goldschmidt get a homer.

Yadier Molina

After all these years, Molina can still be clutch when it matters most. And what a moment this was for Molina and the Cardinals.

YADI! YADI! YADI! pic.twitter.com/JIpdJHohZR
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 4, 2022

Molina hit a double on a liner to center field in the third inning to score Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, and Dylan Carlson. Molina scored on a sacrifice fly to left field from Lars Nootbaar.

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8 standouts from Cardinals sweep of Cubs