Tue Sep 23 05:10:00 UTC 2025: **Cardinals Settle Score with Brewers, Inch Closer to Wild Card**
**ST. LOUIS** – The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1 on Sunday afternoon at Busch Stadium, fueled by a fiery response from designated hitter Iván Herrera and a strong performance from starting pitcher Matthew Liberatore. The win brought the Cardinals within four games of the New York Mets for the final National League Wild Card spot.
The game carried extra weight following Saturday’s contentious matchup, where a check swing by Herrera resulted in an injury to Brewers catcher William Contreras. Tensions flared in the first inning when Herrera was hit by a pitch in the arm, seemingly in retaliation. However, Herrera exacted swift revenge in the third inning, crushing a two-run home run off Brewers pitcher Robert Gasser.
“That [home run] was some payback right there,” Herrera said after the game, acknowledging the tension surrounding the earlier hit-by-pitch. He also reiterated that his check swing on Saturday was unintentional, emphasizing that he “just want[s] to play the game the right way.”
Liberatore delivered a crucial performance on the mound, limiting the Brewers to just one run over five innings. The left-hander continued his strong season, reaching a career-high 151 2/3 innings pitched.
José Fermín also contributed significantly, driving in three runs with a bases-clearing double in the fourth and a bases-loaded walk in the eighth.
The game marked the final home game of the season for the Cardinals, drawing a crowd of 32,723. On the day, the team honored longtime president of baseball operations John Mozeliak, recognizing his 30-year career.
First Piper 