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Cubs‘ Matthew Boyd Plays Stopper Role in Dominant Win Over Cardinals
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ST. LOUIS – Ian Happ‘s leadoff home run ignited the Chicago Cubs as they cruised to an 8-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday night at Busch Stadium. Veteran left-hander Matthew Boyd pitched six scoreless innings, embracing his role as the stopper and helping the Cubs snap a recent slump.
Boyd’s Stellar Performance
Matthew Boyd delivered a team-leading 11th quality start of the season, allowing only three hits and no walks. His performance was a stark contrast to the previous three games, where Cubs starters had struggled, allowing 23 runs in 14 1/3 innings. According to MLB stats, Boyd’s ERA in his last six outings is an remarkable 1.49 [[SOURCE]].
Did You Know? A quality start is defined as a start in which a pitcher lasts at least six innings and allows no more than three earned runs.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell lauded Boyd’s performance, stating, “He just kept putting up zeros. It felt kind of like the game was over by the fifth inning, just how he was pitching” [[SOURCE]].
Offensive Explosion
Happ’s leadoff homer off Cardinals starter Erick Fedde immediately lifted the Cubs.Reese McGuire followed with a two-run homer in the second inning, and Kyle Tucker added a solo shot in the third. By the fifth inning, the Cubs had built an eight-run lead.
“You can’t ask for a better way to start that game,” said McGuire, highlighting the impact of Happ’s early blast.
Pro Tip: Getting an early lead can significantly boost a team’s confidence and momentum, especially after a series of losses.
Cubs’ Season Trajectory
This win comes after an 8-7 defeat the previous night, which was the Cubs’ fifth loss in six games. The victory helped the Cubs maintain their lead in the National League Central, which currently stands at 2 1/2 games. The Cubs had not experienced a “comfortable” win, defined as having at least a four-run advantage, since June 10 against the Phillies.
The Cubs’ offensive performance has fluctuated recently. In the seven games leading up to Wednesday,they averaged 5.9 runs per game with an .865 team OPS but only secured two wins. In the 19 games prior, they averaged 3.4 runs per game with a .650 OPS but went 12-7.
Teamwork and defense
The Cubs displayed strong defense and baserunning,including three stolen bases. Happ, who also contributed a two-run single in the fourth inning, emphasized the team’s all-around performance. “This is our brand of baseball,” happ said. “Everything was clicking tonight, and I think those are the games we like to see and it puts us back in a good spot.”
| Statistic | Last 7 Games | Previous 19 Games |
|---|---|---|
| Runs per Game | 5
 |