Busch Stadium | St. Louis Cardinals
Busch Stadium | St. Louis Cardinals
On June 29, 2025, the St. Louis Cardinals completed a three-game sweep against the Cleveland Guardians with a decisive 7-0 victory. Cardinals left-hander Matthew Liberatore delivered six-plus scoreless innings, supported by his childhood friend Nolan Gorman's early three-run homer off Cleveland's Logan Allen.
Gorman expressed his satisfaction in contributing to Liberatore's performance, stating, "I think about it every time he’s on the mound and I’m playing in that game -- I get to go supply runs for this guy and I get to watch him dominating on the mound." The two have been friends since their Little League days in Arizona.
The Cardinals' victory was further solidified by Victor Scott II's two-run home run and Nolan Arenado's milestone achievements of his 1,900th career hit and 400th double. The team now holds a one-game lead over the Padres for the third Wild Card spot in the National League. They have won ten out of their last thirteen games and achieved their longest road winning streak since 2021.
“It’s unbelievable how we’re playing,” said Arenado. “Offensively we’re just finding a way to scrap, and it’s been fun to be a part of.”
Both Gorman and Liberatore reflected on their journey together from youth baseball to reaching Major League Baseball. Their professional paths intertwined when they were both drafted in 2018 and later reunited with the Cardinals following a trade involving Liberatore.
“Sometimes it’s a little overlooked on our part because we’re trying to win ballgames," said Liberatore. "But when you take a step back...it’s pretty surreal that we’re doing this at the highest level.”
Gorman has become an essential player during the Cardinals' recent successful run after overcoming an early-season hamstring strain. He is currently hitting .267 with six home runs and 16 RBIs for June.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t proud," Gorman admitted. "I’ve done a good job on the mental side keeping myself in check."
Liberatore navigated through challenges during his outing but ultimately allowed only three hits while striking out five batters. He drew inspiration from Sonny Gray’s standout performance earlier in the series.
“Sonny’s outing was the best I’ve seen in my life," said Liberatore. "There are things he did that I try to implement into my game."
Alerts Sign-up