The Cubs faced the Sox in a thrilling City Series game at Wrigley Field that needed extra innings to decide the winner. Nico Hoerner kept the Cubs in play with an RBI single in the ninth inning. Pete Crow-Armstrong sealed the victory with a walk-off two-run home run in the 10th. This gave the Cubs a 7-5 win in front of 40,354 enthusiastic fans.
Early Action from the Cubs
The Cubs took an early lead with two home runs in the first inning. Pete Crow-Armstrong hit Sox pitcher Luis Castillo’s first pitch out of the park. Seiya Suzuki then homered four pitches later, putting the Cubs ahead 2-0.
Castillo admitted to missing his spots during these crucial moments. He adjusted, allowing four runs on eight hits, one strikeout, and one walk in 4 2/3 innings.
Grichuk Strikes Again
Sox designated hitter Randal Grichuk continued his successful history against the Cubs. In the fourth inning, he hit a three-run homer on Shota Imanaga’s splitter, giving the Sox a 3-2 lead.
Imanaga delivered a solid performance with 10 strikeouts in six innings. He faced challenges in the fourth with Grichuk’s home run being a pivotal moment.
Cubs Capitalize on Error
By the fifth inning, the Cubs had regained the lead. Nico Hoerner’s slow roller resulted in a bad throw by Miguel Vargas, allowing Ian Happ to score from first. The Cubs led 4-3 after this miscue.
Benintendi Turns the Tables
The Sox retaliated in the eighth inning. Andrew Benintendi hit a clutch two-run homer to right-center, giving the Sox a 5-4 advantage. Sox manager Will Venable praised his team’s hitting efficiency.
Looking to Extra Innings
In a dramatic ninth inning, the Cubs tied the game at 5. Hoerner’s single to center brought pinch runner Tyrone Taylor home. The game then moved into extra innings as the Cubs loaded the bases, though they couldn’t capitalize at that moment.
Walk-Off Win
In the 10th inning, Pete Crow-Armstrong stepped up for the decisive play. With a 2-1 count, he hit a slider from lefty Hagen Smith over the right-field wall. “Just kind of hung a slider and he hit it,” Smith commented on the winning play.
Crow-Armstrong celebrated with his teammates, emphasizing the game’s importance. The intense competition highlights both teams’ contributions to the sport in the city.