The Weather Was the Real MVP
Let’s be honest. The weather was the story here.
The game started with a 59-minute rain delay. The ground crew rolled out the tarp, the fans took cover, and everyone settled in for a long night. But that was just the opening act.
As the game went on, a “ghostly fog” settled over Wrigley Field . It wasn’t just a little mist. This was the kind of fog that makes you question your eyesight. By the sixth inning, players couldn’t see the ball. Outfielders disappeared. The Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system, used for challenges, glitched out because the pitch-tracking radar couldn’t see through the haze .
“At first it was kinda cool, and then I was like ‘Bro, I’m kinda scared, because you really could not see the ball,” Cardinals rookie JJ Wetherholt said after the game .
The game was paused again—this time for a “fog delay.” It was a 15-minute break during which the Cubs fans, ever the entertainers, started a “mighty beer snake” and sang “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” It was pure chaos. And in the middle of all that chaos, the baseball game happened.
First Inning Fireworks: Wetherholt Sets the Tone
When the play finally started, the Cubs vs Cardinals MLB highlights were immediate. Rookie JJ Wetherholt stepped up to the plate as the first batter of the game. The Wrigley crowd was loud. They were booing him.
He didn’t care.
Wetherholt took the very first pitch from Cubs starter Shota Imanaga and launched it over the left-field wall for a home run .
It was his 13th home run of the season and his fourth leadoff homer. That set a new Cardinals rookie record . He surpassed legends like Lou Klein and Wally Moon. Not bad for a guy who was just trying to see the ball in a fog.
This wasn’t just a home run. It was a statement. The Cardinals were in control from the very first swing. The Cubs vs Cardinals starting pitchers’ duel was over before it even really started. Imanaga had given up a run on his first pitch. It was a tough night from there.
Pitching Dominance on a Strange Night
While the fog made hitting a nightmare, the pitching was sharp.
Kyle Leahy started for the Cardinals. He threw five scoreless innings, giving up only three hits . He struck out six and walked two. He wasn’t overpowering; he was just effective. He kept the Cubs off balance and let the defense do the work. For the Cardinals’ pitching performance, it was exactly what they needed.
The Cubs had their chances to score. In the third inning, they had runners on first and second with two outs. Alex Bregman came up to the plate. He grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the threat .
In the fifth inning, the same thing happened. A single, a hit-by-pitch, and Bregman at the plate. He popped out to first base . That was the story of the night for Chicago. They couldn’t get a hit with runners in scoring position. They were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left eight runners on base . That’s why the Cubs’ batting statistics looked so ugly.
The Cardinals’ bullpen was lights out. George Soriano, Ryne Stanek, JoJo Romero, and Riley O’Brien each pitched a scoreless inning . O’Brien earned his 22nd save of the season by striking out the side in the ninth . It was a textbook win for the pitching staff.
The Cardinals Add Insurance (And It’s Weird)
The Cardinals scored their first run on the Wetherholt homer. They got their second run in the third inning . Nathan Church led off with a walk. Wetherholt walked again. Then Ivan Herrera singled up the middle to score Church. It was a 2-0 lead.
Then came the fog.
In the top of the eighth, with the fog thicker than ever, the Cardinals added one more run. Jordan Walker, who would be named an All-Star on that day, doubled to lead off the inning. Then Alec Burleson singled him home .
The final run made the score 3-0. It felt like an eternity since the first run was scored. The rhythm of the game was completely shot. But for the Cardinals, it didn’t matter. They were winning. The Cubs vs Cardinals game highlights would be short, but sweet for St. Louis fans.
Analyzing the National League Central Rivalry Dynamics
This game was a microcosm of the NL Central race. The Cubs were riding high. They had just won five games in a row and scored 35 runs in a three-game sweep of the Padres. They were looking like the team to beat .
But the Cardinals are their kryptonite.
This was the second game of the series. The night before, the Cardinals had crushed the Cubs 17-1 . They ended the Cubs’ five-game win streak in a big way.
Then, on the Fourth of July, the Cardinals showed they could win the close games, too. They won 3-0.
This rivalry is one of the oldest and best in baseball. The Cubs vs Cardinals head-to-head history is filled with moments like this. One team gets hot, and the other cools them down. The Cardinals are currently in third place, just a half-game behind the Cubs . The Brewers are leading the division, but these two teams are right there.
The message from St. Louis was clear: “We’re not going away.”
Who Was the Hero? JJ Wetherholt
If there was one player who defined this game, it was JJ Wetherholt.
He was the top pick in the 2023 draft, and he’s already making a huge impact . He went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, a single, and a walk. He reached base four times .
He set a rookie record for leadoff home runs. He showed power, patience, and speed. He was the catalyst for the Cardinals’ offense.
He also had the quote of the night. When asked about the fog, he admitted it was “kinda scary” . It was a human moment in a very weird game. He’s young, he’s talented, and he’s not afraid of the big stage.
For the Cardinals, he’s the future. For the Cubs, he’s a nightmare.
Cubs Offense: A Fizzle on the Fourth
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. The Cubs’ offense was terrible. After scoring 35 runs in three games against the Padres, they managed just one run in two games against the Cardinals .
What happened?
- Runners Left on Base: The Cubs had eight runners left on base. They couldn’t get the big hit.
- 0-for-5 with RISP: They went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position .
- Stranded Opportunities: In the eighth inning, they had runners on second and third with no outs. JoJo Romero came in and struck out two right-handed batters to end the threat .
The Cardinals’ defensive performance was strong, but the Cubs made it easy for them. They were swinging at bad pitches. They weren’t adjusting to the conditions.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said, “That was brutal,” and he was talking about the fog . But he could have been talking about the offense, too.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STL Cardinals | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0 |
| CHC Cubs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
Key Stats from the Game
Here’s a quick look at the numbers from the MLB box score on July 4, 2026.
| Team | R | H | E |
| Cardinals | 3 | 8 | 0 |
| Cubs | 0 | 5 | 1 |
St. Louis Cardinals Top Performers:
- JJ Wetherholt (2B): 3-4, HR, RBI, BB
- Alec Burleson (1B): 2-4, RBI
- Kyle Leahy (SP): 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K (Win)
Chicago Cubs Top Performers:
- Pete Crow-Armstrong (CF): 1-2, 2 BB, HBP
- Michael Conforto (RF): 2-4
The MLB player performance today was definitely skewed toward the Cardinals. The Chicago Cubs’ latest score was a zero, and that’s a tough look for a team with playoff aspirations.
Looking Ahead: The Series Finale
The Cardinals are going for the sweep on Sunday . They have a chance to send a huge message to the Cubs and the rest of the division.
The pitching matchup will be:
- Cardinals: Matthew Liberatore (4-5, 5.33 ERA)
- Cubs: Javier Assad (6-1, 4.53 ERA)
The Cubs need to find their bats again. The weather is supposed to be clear, so there won’t be any fog to blame. They need to show some fight and avoid getting swept at home. The St. Louis Cardinals’ latest score from the night before was a win, and they’ll be looking to make it three in a row over their rivals. This is what the MLB scoreboard for July 4 is set up for the weekend.
This game will be remembered for the fog. But for the Cubs, it should be remembered as a missed opportunity. They let a rookie beat them. They let the weather get in their heads. And now, they’re in danger of falling further behind in the division race. The Cubs vs Cardinals key moments were few and far between, but the Cardinals made theirs count. The Cardinals’ win over the Cubs was a classic example of doing just enough to win.
Conclusion
The Cubs vs Cardinals match score and stats on July 4, 2026, show a 3-0 win for St. Louis. But the real story was the weather, the rookie, and the Cubs’ cold bats.
JJ Wetherholt hit a leadoff homer, reached base four times, and set a franchise record. The Cardinals’ pitching staff combined for a shutout, something that’s always special at Wrigley Field. And the Cubs offense? They just disappeared.
The fog created one of the strangest nights in baseball history. Fans will remember the beer snake, the singing, and the players looking up into the sky, unable to see the ball.
But the scoreboard doesn’t lie. It’s a win for the Cardinals. It’s a loss for the Cubs. And it’s a reminder that in this rivalry, anything can happen—even a fog delay in the middle of summer.
Q1: What was the final score of the Cubs vs Cardinals game on July 4, 2026?
The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs by a final score of 3-0. The game featured a rain delay at the start and a fog delay in the middle innings at Wrigley Field .
Q2: Who hit the home run for the Cardinals in the game?
Rookie second baseman JJ Wetherholt hit a leadoff home run on the very first pitch of the game. It was his 13th home run of the season and set a Cardinals rookie record for leadoff homers .
Q3: Why was the game against the Cubs on July 4?
The game was delayed twice. First, there was a 59-minute rain delay before the first pitch. Later, during the game, a thick fog rolled into Wrigley Field, making it impossible for players to see the ball. This caused a 15-minute “fog delay” .
Read More: Dodgers vs Padres
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