Cardinals Shut Out Reds 3-0 Behind McGreevy's Gem, Saggese Homer: Cincinnati Falls Further in Wild Card Race

Tuesday, September 16th, 2025

St. Louis Cardinals Defeat Cincinnati Reds 3-0 Behind Michael McGreevy's Strong Start

The St. Louis Cardinals earned a 3-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night at Busch Stadium. Michael McGreevy delivered seven impressive innings, and Thomas Saggese powered the offense with a two-run home run.

Game Overview

Cincinnati's defeat marked their fourth loss in five games, putting them three games behind the New York Mets for the final National League wild card spot. For the Cardinals, the win allowed them to remain 4 1/2 games back with 10 games left in the regular season. However, St. Louis still needs to overtake both Arizona and San Francisco for a postseason berth.

Pitching Performance

Rookie right-hander Michael McGreevy improved to 7-3, yielding only three hits and three walks while striking out six across 91 pitches. His effort, combined with two relievers, resulted in a three-hitter shutout for the St. Louis staff.

For Cincinnati, Andrew Abbott (9-7) allowed three runs and eight hits while fanning seven over 4 2/3 innings. Three Reds relievers held the Cardinals hitless over the final 3 1/3 innings, but it wasn’t enough to spark a comeback.

Offensive Highlights

The Cardinals struck first in the opening frame, as Brendan Donovan doubled and later scored on Nolan Arenado’s sacrifice fly. In the third inning, Alec Burleson singled before Thomas Saggese blasted a two-run homer, his second of the season and first since April 6, to provide crucial insurance runs.

Injury Update

Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras missed the game due to right biceps tightness. He exited Monday’s contest in the seventh inning and remains day-to-day.

Key Moment

Thomas Saggese's 391-foot, two-run home run over the left-field wall marked a turning point, extending the Cardinals’ lead and providing a cushion for the pitching staff.

Key Stat

Riley O’Brien secured his fifth save of the season by pitching a perfect ninth, helping clinch the Cardinals’ 13th shutout of the year.

Up Next

The series finale will see Reds right-hander Brady Singer (13-10, 3.94 ERA) taking the mound against St. Louis right-hander Andre Pallante (6-14, 5.34 ERA) on Wednesday.

In summary

The St. Louis Cardinals relied on strong pitching and timely hitting to blank the Cincinnati Reds 3-0, with Michael McGreevy shining on the mound and Thomas Saggese providing the key two-run homer. The win keeps the Cardinals' postseason hopes alive as the Reds struggle to remain in the wild card race. Timely defense, efficient relief pitching, and clutch hitting were the difference-makers in this crucial late-season National League matchup.

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