For nearly all of Thursday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, it seemed certain that the Chicago Cubs would lose. Then, the bottom of the ninth happened.
At one point in the game, the Cubs trailed 6-1. They managed to close the gap, but still trailed 6-4 heading into the ninth. But Ben Zobrist led the inning off with a walk. Two batters later, David Bote crushed a two-run home run to tie it.
🎶 Certain as the sun
Rising in the east 🎶 pic.twitter.com/GXHJjwuLcd— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 26, 2018
It would not stay tied for long. The very next hitter, Anthony Rizzo, came to the plate and sent the Wrigley Field faithful home happy.
Big-league crush job. #Walkoff#EverybodyIn pic.twitter.com/o6UkkaFQ7T
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 26, 2018
What a win for Chicago. The Cubs entered Wednesday only 2.5 games up on the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in the NL Central.
With a win, the Diamondbacks could have conceivably taken first place in the NL West over from the Dodgers, who play in Atlanta on Thursday night. That’s no longer a possibility.
For two teams locked in playoff races, that’s quite the swing.