Cubs Dominate Cards with Happ’s HR and Boyd’s 6-Inning Pitch

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    ST. LOUIS — Ian Happ kicked off the game with a home run and drove in three runs, while Matthew Boyd delivered an outstanding performance, allowing just three hits over six scoreless innings as the Chicago Cubs triumphed over the St. Louis Cardinals with an 8-0 victory on Wednesday night.

    The Cubs, aided by additional home runs from Reese McGuire and Kyle Tucker, managed to halt their three-game losing streak.

    Boyd, who currently boasts a record of 7-3, struck out three batters and walked none, maintaining his impressive streak of allowing two or fewer runs in his last six starts.

    Ryan Brasier, Michael Fulmer, and Porter Hodge took over for Boyd, securing the win by pitching three scoreless innings collectively, marking the Cubs’ seventh shutout this season.

    Meanwhile, Erick Fedde, holding a record of 3-7, struggled for the Cardinals, conceding seven runs from eight hits and three walks across 3 2/3 innings.

    Garrett Hampson, making his debut for the Cardinals, initially played in center field before transitioning to shortstop. He then made his second pitching appearance, delivering a scoreless inning.

    Earlier, McGuire hit his fifth home run of the season to center-right, helping drive in Michael Busch, which expanded Chicago’s lead to 4-0 during the second inning.

    Before that, Dansby Swanson started the second inning with a double to center field and then scored off Busch’s RBI single.

    In a key moment of the game, Ian Happ sent the first pitch flying down the right-field line, scoring his 10th career leadoff home run and his third of the season. Remarkably, Happ has hit nine out of his 12 home runs this season during a 19-game hot streak since June 5.

    Highlighting a critical statistic, the Cubs stand out as the solitary team in the National League, and one of just three major league teams alongside the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros, that have not endured a four-game losing streak this season.

    Looking ahead, the Cubs are set to bring back LHP Shota Imanaga, who holds a record of 3-2 with a 2.82 ERA, from the injured list for his first start since May 4. In contrast, the Cardinals plan to start RHP Andre Pallante, with a standing of 5-3 and a 4.48 ERA, as the teams face off in the finale of their four-game series on Thursday.