Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (6/23/25): Cardinals 8, Cubs 2 – Brown Bombed by Birds
The Cubs and Cardinals met for the first time in 2025 on a hot night at Busch Stadium on Monday. It was a competitive affair until St. Louis exploded in the middle innings and rolled to victory.
Starting pitchers Ben Brown and Matthew Liberatore were on their games early and there was no score through three innings. Lars Nootbaar landed the first blow for the Cardinals when he hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the 4th to make it 2-0.
Carson Kelly singled home run in the top of the 5th and the Cubs eventually loaded the bases, but Ian Happ hit into a double play to keep the score 2-1. Brown continued to struggle in the bottom of the frame, giving up a pair of two-run shots to Brendan Donovan and Alec Burleson that put St. Louis on top 6-1.
Manager Craig Counsell tried to squeeze one more inning out of his starter and Nolan Gorman hit the Cardinals fourth two-run homer to build the lead to 8-1 in the 6th. Chicago would score one more time but it was not nearly enough and the home team won 8-2. (Box score)
Key Moment
The Cubs had an excellent chance to tie or go ahead with the bases loaded in the 5th. Happ hit the first pitch right to Nolan Arenado at third and it quickly became an inning ending double play. The Cardinals broke things open after that.
Why the Cubs Lost
It’s not easy to win when you give up eight runs in a game, and that was certainly the case Monday.
Stats That Matter
- This performance might get Brown sent to Triple-A when Shōta Imanaga returns Thursday: 5 IP, 8 R, 9 H, 3 K, 2 BB.
- Kelly reached base three times and appears to be heating up.
- Pete Crow-Armstrong had a pair of doubles and scored twice.
Bottom Line
Brown has a lot of talent, but he is just too inconsistent to be an effective MLB starter right now. The Cubs have to find a way to stop giving up as many runs as they have been the past five games. Chicago definitely needs to find a right-handed hitter who can be affective against lefties because they are struggling against them right now.
On Deck
The same two teams meet up again Tuesday at 6:45pm CT. Jameson Taillon takes the mound against Michael McGreevy in a matchup available on Marquee with the radio feed on 670 The Score.
