On Saturday, the Cubs took down their NL Central rivals, the Cardinals, 7-3, behind a record-setting performance from first baseman Michael Busch. Well, if you remember, Busch always brings out his A-game against the Cardinals. Just a couple of months earlier, Busch went 4-for-4 in an 11-3 win over these same Cardinals, becoming the first Cub since Ernie Banks in 1963 to hit three homers in a single game. He racked up a career-best 13 total bases that day. This time, the story was about to be similar…

Busch was on the verge of adding even more milestones to his resume until the Cardinals pulled what many are calling a radical move. Now, whether you see it as a strategy or desperation, it’s safe to say their decision didn’t sit well with a lot of fans.

“THE CARDINALS INTENTIONALLY WALKED MICHAEL BUSCH INSTEAD OF GIVING HIM A CHANCE FOR A CYCLE. ABSOLUTE SCUMBAG MOVE,” Bleacher Nation reports.

Well, the Cubs were up 7-3 with a runner on third and two outs when Busch, already 4-for-4 with two HRs and just a single shy of the cycle, stepped to the plate. However, with the game still within reach, Cardinals manager Oli Marmol wasn’t about to take a risk. He flashed four fingers, calling for the intentional walk, and just like that, Busch was robbed of his chance to etch his name alongside legends like Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle!

“I’m not here for anybody’s amusement,” Marmol said. “I’m trying to win a game.”

Still, that didn’t stop the Cubs from cruising to a 7-3 win at Wrigley Field. Ironically, powered in large part by Busch’s monster day. The first baseman finished 4-for-4 with two homers and a walk, bringing his season totals to 34 home runs and 90 RBIs. But the excitement quickly flipped to outrage as Busch, looking almost caught off guard, jogged to first after the intentional pass. The chorus of boos that followed made it clear that the fans wanted to see him swing.

The Cardinals got called out by the fans

Wrigley Field was all packed up to witness the history, but the Cardinals’ move restricted Busch from having the same. Enough for the Cubs fans to take the battle over social media. “Busch league move, ridiculous,” one fan commented. “Typical bush-league cardinal baseball,” added another.

Well, in baseball lingo, a Bush league move means something unprofessional. And that’s exactly what Cubs fans accused the Cardinals of when they chose not to pitch to Busch. Instead, Busch had to settle for 14 total bases over five plate appearances, which is still pretty incredible. However, as it turned out, the strategy worked in St. Louis’s favor. If you’ve checked the game, the batter after Busch drew a walk grounded out to the pitcher. So while fans saw it as a Bush League move, Cardinals manager Marmol might argue it was simply a smart, effective decision. “You play to win the game,” one user agreed.

“I’m not surprised, but they’ll be watching the playoffs on TV next week. I like that,” one fan remarked. While another said, “I actually love it. The Cardinals are so irrelevant that this is how they make news. Season’s almost over, scumbags!”

Just check two comments, and you’ll see the Cubs fans are targeting the spot of the Cardinals where it would hurt the most. With a 78-83 record in the NL Central, the Cardinals are just better than the basement-dwelling Pirates. And their playoff hope is done and dusted for this year. Hence, the fans are wondering why the team is desperate for a win, why it is. Well, a win is a win, and as Marmol said, “I’m trying to win a game.”

Nevertheless, amid all the drama, the Cubs clinched the game and a playoff berth. So now it’s time to witness the same Busch magic in October.