The Chicago Cubs achieved an uncommon accomplishment on Wednesday evening at Wrigley Field, primarily due to the efforts of Michael Busch and Pete Crow-Armstrong.
Busch received a walk in the tenth inning with all bases occupied, propelling the Cubs to a 7-6 victory against the Cincinnati Reds. This occurred following Crow-Armstrong’s two-run homer in the ninth frame, which leveled the score and ultimately sent the game into extra innings.
Astoundingly, this represented the squad’s third consecutive walk-off triumph against the Reds. The Cubs have become the initial MLB club to accomplish this since the Los Angeles Dodgers secured three successive walk-off victories versus the Colorado Rockies throughout their 2019 season.
The Cubs initiated their impressive run with a 5-4 success against the Reds on Monday evening, thanks to pinch-hitter Michael Conforto’s solo home run in the ninth. Subsequently, on Tuesday night, Busch delivered a single in the tenth inning to score Dansby Swanson, clinching a 3-2 victory.
This result culminated in Wednesday’s success, which represented the Cubs’ eighth straight win overall and their fourteenth uninterrupted victory at Wrigley Field. Even though it lacked the drama of the previous two decisive finishes, it undeniably holds full significance.
The most intense moments, however, unfolded in the ninth inning, as the Reds accumulated four scores to establish a 6-4 advantage following a homer by Spencer Steer and an RBI single by JJ Bleday. Nevertheless, Elly De La Cruz hit a sacrifice fly, which Seiya Suzuki secured just before the outfield barrier. Suzuki stumbled after securing the ball, permitting two scores to be registered from the sacrifice fly and extending the Reds’ lead to two runs.
However, Crow-Armstrong responded immediately in the lower half of the frame by hitting his fourth long ball of the current campaign.
The Cubs currently possess a 25-12 record and occupy the top position in the NL Central division. Their succession of walk-off wins marks the club’s longest since 2009, when they likewise achieved three consecutive victories versus the White Sox and Cleveland.
The Reds, conversely, have now suffered six consecutive defeats and maintain a 20-17 standing. The pair of teams are scheduled to conclude their four-game series on Thursday afternoon.
