The fate of the game turned on the exploits of a young man who used to swing left-handed and who stepped into the box with one out in the 8th inning just looking to make it to first base, even if that meant bunting for a hit. That by-any-means-necessary approach was forced by Johnny Cueto, who hadn’t walked any Cubs and had only allowed two other hits, none since a Baez single in the 5th.
I had lamented to a couple of the folks gathered at our Cubs Insider watch party — which went really well and raised nearly $300 for Riley Hospital — that I was worried Javy wouldn’t be patient enough in facing Cueto.