Cubs Secure Dramatic Victory Over White Sox

The Chicago White Sox faced a tough decision with Cubs star center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. To prevent a repeat performance of the previous night’s walk-off, they opted to intentionally walk him with one out in the ninth inning. This choice, influenced by Crow-Armstrong’s earlier home run, positioned Alex Bregman to become the hero for the Cubs.

Already having tied the game in the seventh with an RBI single, Bregman again delivered. He sent a first-pitch fastball from Sox reliever Trevor Richards into play, allowing Carson Kelly, who doubled to start the ninth, to score. This secured a 4-3 walk-off victory for the Cubs. Bregman’s performance stood out, having posted a .357 average with notable power stats over his last 21 games prior to Tuesday.

“You love it; sometimes you’re going to fail in them, but you want them every single time, and eventually you keep putting yourself in those spots and you keep getting those opportunities, you’re going to come through,” Bregman said. “Fortunate enough to put a good swing on it today. I thought Carson did the hard part by getting into scoring position there to lead off the inning.”

The Cubs registered their major-league-best 13th walk-off victory, tying a team record set in 2015. This win came despite starter Kevin Gausman exiting in the fifth due to cramping in his left thumb/hand. Gausman praised his team’s resilience and belief in one another.

The Cubs leveraged their strength against left-handed pitchers, facing Sox lefty opener Bryan Hudson. Crow-Armstrong and Michael Busch contributed solo home runs, continuing their dominance against lefties. Erick Fedde, although pitching well for the Sox, was unable to fully prevent Cubs scoring, allowing three hits and striking out five over 4 2/3 innings.

Sox reliever Huascar Brazobán helped navigate some difficult situations but faced challenges in the seventh, prompting manager Will Venable to bring in Grant Taylor. Taylor responded by striking out key Cubs hitters, though Bregman eventually tied the game with a clutch RBI single.

Kevin Gausman’s performance included productive results with his fastball and splitter, despite conceding multiple hits. Sox batter Drew Romo secured an RBI single and Murakami hit a significant home run, adding to the runs against Gausman. Gausman’s hand cramp, emerging in the fourth, led to his eventual departure in the fifth inning after showing signs of discomfort.

“My thumb, kind of couldn’t even put it in my glove there in the fourth before I got some electrolytes in me, and felt fine to start the next inning,” Gausman explained.

Javier Assad relieved Gausman and delivered a vital performance. Over three innings, he allowed no walks and struck out two, maintaining stability for the Cubs. Assad’s exceptional season continued, maintaining a 2.24 ERA from May, demonstrating his ability to adapt to various roles within the pitching lineup.

Cubs manager Counsell commended Assad, saying, “Javy put the game back in order for us.” Assad’s versatility has been crucial, with standout performances in starting and relief roles.