By MATT PIKE
The St. Louis Cardinals bounced back from a rough series with the Milwaukee Brewers, opening up their series with the Chicago White Sox with a dominating 12-2 win at Rate Field.
After the White Sox opened the scoring in the first inning on an RBI single by Edgar Quero, driving in Miguel Vargas, the Cardinals put up five runs in the second inning. Pedro Pagés reached first on a sacrifice bunt and advanced to second base, thanks to a throwing error by Vargas, scoring Nolan Arenado. A single by Brendan Donovan drove in Lars Nootbaar.
Masyn Winn’s groundout extended the scoring run for the Redbirds bringing home Pagés, before Iván Herrera drove in the final two runs of the inning with a two RBI single, scoring Victor Scott II and Donovan for the 5-1 Cardinals lead.
Donnie and Herrera helped spark a 5-run inning! ⚡️
Give them an All-Star vote at https://t.co/H9MeQwAQiy! pic.twitter.com/gTQlffF5Gv
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) June 18, 2025
St. Louis added another run in the fifth inning as Willson Contreras stole home base, the play was challenged and the call was overturned with Contrereas safe at home. The White Sox scored their only other run in the bottom half of the inning, a sacrifice fly by Vinny Capra driving in Lenyn Sosa for the score.
After review: Willson steals home! pic.twitter.com/Fsj8ID9yMW
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) June 18, 2025
Herrera drove in two more runs in the sixth inning with another two RBI single, scoring Donovan and Winn. A home run by Alec Burleson in the seventh inning extended the lead even more, before the Cardinals added another run in the eighth inning, again thanks to Burleson with an RBI single, driving in Winn. St. Louis scored the final two runs of the game in the ninth inning on a two run home run by Scott II, scoring Pagés.
Look where Alec Burleson hit this pitch to bring home our 10th run of the night! pic.twitter.com/h2hFuLVWkK
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) June 18, 2025
Victor Scott II makes it an even dozen! pic.twitter.com/Yvu8llh6ev
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) June 18, 2025
Matthew Liberatore earned the win for the Cardinals, improving to 4-6 on the season, pitching six innings and giving up both runs on five hits, striking out four. At the plate, Donovan led the way going 4-for-5 with a double, an RBI, and two runs scored. Burleson was 3-for-5 with the home run and two RBIs.
St. Louis continues their series with Chicago tomorrow. Sonny Gray (7-2, 3.84 ERA) takes the mound for the Cardinals against Sean Burke (3-7, 4.71 ERA) for the White Sox. First pitch is at 6:40pm, pregame wlll be joined at 6:30 on KY 102 (102.5 FM).
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.
