It took 4 hours and 23 minutes for the Chicago Cubs to raise the “W” flag at Wrigley Field on Wednesday. A single by All-Star first baseman Anthony Rizzo, in the bottom of the 11th inning, scored Matt Duffy from third base, winning the game for the Cubs and sending Shortstop Javier Baez flying at Rizzo with a bottle of baby powder to celebrate.
Both teams used a total of 6 pitchers during the game. Walker Buehler allowed 2 runs on 5 hits in a 6 inning start for the Dodgers while also throwing 8 strikeouts. Adbert Alzolay would only get through 5 innings in his start for Chicago, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits with 7 strikeouts.
The Dodgers would strike first in the 4th inning when First Baseman Max Muncy launched a solo homerun into the left-center bleachers. An RBI double from Gavin Lux an inning later would put the Dodgers up 2-0, before Cubs Center Fielder Jake Marisnick smashed a 2-run bomb, tying the game.
Each team would put up one run before extra innings arrived. A double from Muncy scored Lux from second in the top of the 10th, just before Joc Pederson would score Rizzo from third base on a sacrifice fly. A fielder’s choice from left fielder Matt Beaty scored Muncy to give the Dodgers a 1-run lead in the top half of the 11th. A single from Duffy to tie the game would set up Rizzo’s walk-off in the bottom of the 11th.
Early celebrations; delayed gratification
Although the Cubs were able to come away with the win in the 11th, Pederson thought he won the game for the Cubs in the 10th. After driving a 1-1 fastball from Dodger’s Closer Kenley Jansen to right field, Pederson thought he had launched a no-doubt homerun to win the game and turned around to yell at his teammates in the dugout. However, the ball was caught by Right Fielder Mookie Betts at the warning track. Pederson’s sacrifice fly would tie the game up for the Cubs, but the ball not landing in the right-field bleachers surely caught him off-guard.
Up Next
After Wednesday’s win, the Cubs improved to 15-16 on the season. After winning their series against the Dodgers, the Cubs will host the Pittsburgh Pirates for a three-game home series before heading to Cleveland for an interleague series against the Indians.
The Dodgers will look to bounce back after being swept by the Cubs in Chicago when they travel back to Los Angeles to face the Angels in Anaheim. Los Angeles will conclude its 10- game road trip when they host the Seattle Mariners after their series with the Angels.
