Holmes Shoves at Wrigley, Suzuki Drops the Hammer as Cubs Blank Cardinals

CHICAGO — This was exactly why the Cubs went out and got Clay Holmes. Making his first home start at Wrigley Field, the trade-deadline addition delivered a masterclass, and Seiya Suzuki provided the knockout punch in a 3-0 shutout of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Holmes dealt. The right-hander, acquired from the Mets while recovering from a broken right fibula, was nearly perfect. He retired the first 16 batters he faced before José Fermin singled in the sixth. Over 6 2/3 innings, Holmes struck out three, walked one, and allowed just that hit — enough to earn a thunderous standing ovation from the Wrigley crowd.

The Cubs combined on a three-hitter, with Ryan Rolison, Ryan Zeferjahn, and Jacob Webb slamming the door. Webb worked the ninth for his ninth save.

For five innings, Matthew Liberatore matched Holmes pitch for pitch. He retired his first 13 batters before Nico Hoerner singled in the fifth. Then the sixth unraveled. Liberatore put the first two Cubs on, got Pete Crow-Armstrong to foul out, and handed the ball to George Soriano. Big mistake. On a 2-1 changeup, Suzuki launched an estimated 390-foot three-run homer to left — his 21st of the season. He added a double in the eighth, the only player with multiple hits.

Chicago improved to 72-51, winners in 9 of 11, chasing the MLB-best Brewers in the NL Central and holding a comfy lead atop the NL wild-card standings. The Cardinals dropped to 61-61, 3 1/2 games behind idle Philadelphia for the final wild-card spot. The rivals split their previous 10 meetings this season, but this one — the opener of St. Louis's season-long 11-game, 10-day trip — belonged to the North Side.

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Cardinals righty Michael McGreevy (4-9, 3.64 ERA) takes on Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd (8-1, 3.50) on Saturday. Don't blink.