Seiya Suzuki Robs Yoán Moncada of a Grand Slam and Takes Any Joy White Sox Had Left
A 7-1 lead in the seventh inning suddenly turned into the Cubs clinging to a six-run lead over the White Sox and for a couple of seconds it looked like Yoán Moncada had just hit a grand slam with nobody out that would have sent Cubs fans into full panic mode. Luckily for them, Seiya Suzuki was up to the task, robbing the would-be grand slam in right field. For White Sox fans, any joy they still had left was ripped away.
Pain to joy, joy to pain, Cubs and White Sox fans couldn’t believe what had just happened at Guaranteed Rate Field on Tuesday night.
Kyle Hendricks, who had a perfect game through four innings and had only allowed one run on one hit through six innings, began the seventh inning back on the mound with a 7-1 lead. David Ross was trying to conserve as many trusted relievers as he could even after Monday’s off-day following a heavy work load for the bullpen last week against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Tim Anderson singled and then he went to third base on a Luis Robert Jr. double. Eloy Jimenez stayed patient with two runners in scoring position and drew a walk that brought up Moncada to the plate. There’s no doubt about it, even with a great night up to that point for the Cubs, if Suzuki doesn’t make this incredible catch, then the entire momentum of the game would have turned in the White Sox direction.
The reactions from Cubs and White Sox fans were incredible.
I am 100% certain this is now going to be a popular meme among White Sox fans.
That immediately reminded me of that poor White Sox fan who was in Kansas City back in 2016, when he witnessed the White Sox blow a 7-1 lead in the ninth inning to the Royals.
Some things never change.
Anyway, back to Tuesday night. The White Sox added a third run against Hendricks when Andrew Vaughn reached on a bizarre infield single.
However, that was all for the White Sox, as Mark Leiter Jr., Michael Fulmer and Adbert Alzolay got the final eight outs. Alzolay was especially great, coming in with runners at first and second with nobody out in the ninth inning.
Alzolay, who has taken over as the Cubs closer, recorded his 10th save of the season after striking out Moncada, Vaughn and Yasmani Grandal with some filthy stuff.
Tweets of the night.
And one last look because it’s definitely worth it.