Cubs Beat Giants, Head to National League Championship Series


The Chicago Cubs pulled off a historic win Tuesday night, defeating the San Francisco Giants 6-5. The victory wrapped up the National League Division Series between the two teams, with the Cubs winning the best-of-five games 3-1.

The win means the Cubs avoid a deciding Game 5 at Wrigley Field and head to the National League Championship Series for the second straight season. The Cubs will await the winner of Thursday's game between the Washington Nationals and the Los Angeles Dodgers to see which team they’ll face in the NLCS.

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Tuesday’s win was as improbable as it was historic, with the Cubs trailing 5-2 entering the top of the ninth inning and listless on offense the entire evening. Giants starting pitcher Matt Moore shut Cubs batters down during his eight innings on the mound, allowing only one earned run and three hits. But the Cubs have taught fans that the game is never truly over until the final out, and the ninth-inning rally began with a single to leadoff hitter Kris Bryant.

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Giants manager Bruce Bochy brought in a rotating cast of relievers to try and exploit favorable matchups against Cubs hitters, but the moves dramatically backfired. A walk to first baseman Anthony Rizzo followed Bryant's single. Bryant came around to score on a double by Ben Zobrist.  Pinch hitter Willson Contreras then singled in Rizzo and Zobrist to tie the game, followed later by a Javier Baez single that drove in the winning run. 

The Chicago Cubs celebrate Tuesday’s win over the San Francisco Giants as the team heads to the National League Championship Series for the second straight season. (Chicago Cubs / Facebook)The Chicago Cubs celebrate Tuesday’s win over the San Francisco Giants as the team heads to the National League Championship Series for the second straight season. (Chicago Cubs / Facebook)

Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman then mowed down the Giants hitters in the bottom of the ninth, with three straight strikeouts and the celebration was on. The win marks the largest ninth-inning deficit that any team in major league history has ever overcome in a deciding playoff game. The Cubs will begin the NLCS on Saturday at Wrigley Field.

Join us for a full recap and a look ahead on Chicago Tonight with Dan McGrath, contributing columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times; and Cheryl Raye Stout, sports reporter for Chicago Public Radio, WBEZ.

Follow Paris Schutz on Twitter: @paschutz


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