LOL … Well. That’s one boring way to walk off a game: Walk, single, HBP, HBP. But a Cubs win is a Cubs win! I’ll take it!
The last three #Cubs wins include a walkoff, a no-hitter, and 4 runs scored in the 9th inning!
— Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) September 16, 2020
Now let’s zoom back out and talk about everything else.
When Yu Darvish began the game tonight, he certainly looked dominant, notching two groundouts and a strikeout against the top of the Indians order and extended the Cubs pitchers’ hitless streak to 10.0 innings.
He cruised through the second inning, as well, dropping absolutely beautiful pitches like this one for strikes:
This is just NASTY. @PitchingNinja pic.twitter.com/3WvbmA8OaA
— Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) September 16, 2020
Unfortunately, he ran into plenty of hard contact thereafter, allowing 3 earned runs on 6 hits over the next 3.0 innings. And that includes this run-saving throw from Jason Heyward out in right:
Jason Heyward Uncorks an Incredible Throw to Nail Francisco Lindor at the Plate (VIDEO) https://t.co/v33tsNEvKp pic.twitter.com/EMdPfoFaeK
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) September 16, 2020
At that point, the Cleveland Indians took an insurmountable 3-1 lead over the Chicago Cubs and that was the end of the game…
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…
…
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Not.
The Indians blew their 3-1 lead on a series of hits from Ian Happ (double), Kris Bryant (single, RBI), and Anthony Rizzo (double, RBI), which tied the game after five. That Cleveland team just can’t hold a 3-1 lead, eh? Like the World Series. In 2016. When they blew a 3-1 series lead. Ya know? Are you all getting it?
Jokes aside, although Darvish did give up a ton of hard contact (I’m gonna look into that more tomorrow), as well as 9 hits and a walk, he was able to go 7.0 strong innings for the fifth time this season, which fully kept the Cubs in the game. He may have hurt his Cy Young chances a bit (his ERA is now exactly 2.00), but he more than did his job (it was his ninth straight quality start if you’re keeping score at home).
Offensively, the top of the order had a really nice night: Ian Happ had his first multi-hit game since September 5th, Kris Bryant was on base three times (scoring the game-winning run), Anthony Rizzo reached four times, and Willson Contreras reached three times, including a big go-ahead RBI sac fly in the bottom of the 7th and one of those HBPs in the 9th.
Now, the walk off technically goes Cameron Maybin for standing in the right place at the right time, but the game ball absolutely MUST go to Javy Baez, who not only reach based on a HBP and homered tonight (on an absolute BLAST to center field), he also did this:
El Mago Just Scored From First Base … On a Strikeout! https://t.co/dG6RvnpuO3 pic.twitter.com/jgALUu0udn
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) September 16, 2020
That was a HUGE insurance run, taking pressure off Jeremy Jeffress, who blew the save tonight (more on him tomorrow, too), and everything we’ve come to love about Javy Baez.
Cubs win. Cubs win. Goodnight.
Read More: Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 6, Indians 5 – September 15, 2020