In 2012, the Cardinals shut out the Cubs in consecutive games at St. Louis.
Those were the Cardinals’ first back-to-back shutouts of the Cubs in 23 years.
Spurred by an explosion of power hitting, the 2012 Cardinals beat the Cubs, 12-0, on July 21 and won again, 7-0, on July 22.
Jake Westbrook pitched seven scoreless innings July 21 and relievers Barret Browning, Victor Marte and Trevor Rosenthal completed the shutout. Lance Lynn pitched six scoreless innings July 22 and combined with relievers Fernando Salas and Marc Rzepczynski for the second consecutive shutout.
In 1989, the Cardinals’ back-to-back shutouts of the Cubs occurred in Chicago.
On June 9, 1989, a 15-mph wind came out of the northwest at Wrigley Field, meaning it was blowing toward the batters. Facing Scott Sanderson, the Cardinals scored in the first inning on back-to-back two-out doubles by Ozzie Smith and Pedro Guerrero.
Cardinals starter Jose DeLeon made the run hold up. He limited the Cubs to three hits and struck out 10 in eight innings. In the ninth, Ken Dayley relieved, recorded an out and yielded a single to Damon Berryhill. Todd Worrell came in and retired the next two batters for the save in the Cardinals’ 1-0 victory. Boxscore
“It makes a big difference when the wind is blowing in,” DeLeon said to the Associated Press. “My breaking ball is a lot better when the wind is blowing in.”
Cubs manager Don Zimmer said DeLeon “was outstanding. Over the last two years, he’s the most improved pitcher I’ve seen in the big leagues.”
The next day, June 10, Joe Magrane pitched a complete-game shutout, Tony Pena drove in three runs and St. Louis won, 6-0. Magrane struck out nine, including Ryne Sandberg twice. Boxscore
“I wouldn’t trade (Magrane) for any pitcher in the league, except maybe (Doc) Gooden,” Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog told The Sporting News.
DeLeon (16-12, 3.05 ERA, three shutouts) and Magrane (18-9, 2.91 ERA, three shutouts) had successful seasons for the 1989 Cardinals, but the Cubs won the division title, finishing seven games ahead of St. Louis.
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