The Chicago Cubs earned a 3-0 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals, notably marked by a tense ninth inning that saw benches clear after a high fastball by Cubs pitcher Daniel Palencia hit Willson Contreras. Contreras, who had been vocal toward Palencia, drew the tying run to the plate with no outs. Palencia's resolve showed, as he struck out the next three batters to seal the game. Palencia later stated that hitting Contreras was unintentional, while Contreras apologized for his reaction during the exchange, stating he did not wish for any confrontations.

This incident adds to Contreras' reputation for being involved in dramatic moments, such as a recent altercation with the Milwaukee Brewers. In that game, he responded to being hit by a pitch with a home run, demonstrating his ability to channel emotion into performance. With his history and the rivalry between these teams, the atmosphere remains charged as they continue to face off in close contests.