Bryant’s Extra Inning Home Run Blast in L.A. Powers Cubs to Win (HR Video)
If there was anyone that had any doubt that Kris Bryant was the leading MVP candidate, tonight he gave them a double dose of why. Bryant had two huge home runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers (71-57). His first blast came in the top of the eighth inning with the Cubs down by two runs. That home run trimmed the lead to one.
Jason Heyward doubled in the top of the ninth inning and later scored on a wild pitch by Kenley Jansen. And just like that, the score was tied and headed into extra innings.
In the top of the tenth inning Kris Bryant stepped to the plate after Dexter Fowler hit a lead-off single. He took an 0-1 pitch deep to center field and, well, you can see for yourself.
Aroldis Chapman came on in the bottom of the tenth inning and put the game away. The Cubs win their fourth in a row and their 19th in August, a season-high for total wins in a month, by the score of 6-4 (Box Score).
Stats that mattered
- Montgomery was more shaky tonight then his first start, but he held it together just enough to keep the Cubs in the game – 5.0IP, 3R, 6H, 4BB, 5Ks
- Justin Grimm gave up a costly home run in the bottom of the seventh but the bullpen put in a solid performance outside of that one mistake – 5.0IP, 1R, 2H, 1BB, 7Ks, HR
- Bryant was a monster – 2-for-4, 3R, 3RBI, 1BB, 2HR
- Jason Heyward came up big with a huge double to lead off the ninth inning, which led to him scoring the tying run – 2-for-5, 1R, 2B
Bottom line
That was a scrappy, gut it out win. The Chicago Cubs (82-45) got in a fist fight tonight and the boys from the North Side came out ahead. This is a big win against a National League rival that’s fighting for their lives in their division, with the Cubs playing away from home and with a reliever pitching a spot-start. This is the type of win you’d take any day of the week, much less when you’re trying to wrap up a division title.
Next up
The Cubs will play the Dodgers on Saturday at 3:05 PM CT, with Jason Hammel (13-6, 3.07) on the hill.
