It is a truth universally acknowledged that the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals don’t like each other and have a long-standing rivalry, and on Thursday, that seemed more apparent than ever.
When Cubs pitcher Daniel Palencia struck out Cardinals designated hitter Nolan Gorman and punctuated his team’s 3–0 win with a fiery celebration, tensions that had simmered for nine innings finally boiled over, what unfolded wasn’t just another regular season victory—it was a powder keg moment in one of baseball’s most storied rivalries.
Rivalry Heat and Higher Emotions
Let’s rewind to the top of the ninth. Palencia steps onto the mound with a slim three-run cushion. The Cardinals have a heartbeat, and Willson Contreras, a former Cub and now a Cardinal centerpiece, is up to bat. That’s already juicy enough for storyline lovers, but then Palencia loses a pitch and nails Contreras. Cue the stares. Cue the chirping. Both dugouts inch toward drama like it’s second nature.
Contreras, never one to back down, clearly wasn’t thrilled. And Palencia? He wasn’t about to apologize mid-game. The moment was tense, the energy electric and you could feel both fan bases gripping their seats as if it were October.
A Venezuelan Connection Meets a Competitive Edge
After the game, Palencia struck a different tone—one filled with respect, especially for Contreras. “I don’t want to hit that guy,” he said. “I’ve been watching that guy since I was a kid. I’m proud of him—what he’s doing for the game.” It’s worth noting that both players hail from Venezuela, which adds another layer of complexity to this moment.
What looked like bad blood may have been the result of the combustion of admiration, nerves, and high-stakes baseball. Palencia emphasized the intensity of the moment and even praised Contreras’s career. But let’s be clear: when that ninth inning got rolling, sentiment was shelved in favor of shutting the door.
A Statement Save in a Statement Game
After surrendering first base, Palencia locked in. He mowed down the next three Cardinals with authority—strikeout, strikeout, strikeout. When he fanned Nolan Gorman to end the game, he exploded with rivalry emotion. It was loud, raw, and unmistakably intentional. And that’s where Contreras took exception.
Still, there’s no mistaking the impact. That was Palencia’s eighth save of the year, but maybe his most meaningful. Not just because it iced a win but because it did so against a bitter rival, under the lights, with every pitch under a microscope.
This wasn’t just a game—it was a reminder: Cubs vs. Cardinals is alive, well, and just as heated as ever.
