NEWSLETTER
The Cubs had a tough weekend against the Brewers, but after a much-needed off-day and some key returns to the lineup (the full results of which, we’ll get to later), the offense exploded for eight runs against the Mets.
Five of those eight runs, as I’m sure you know, came on the strength of three homers.
The first homer of the night was an especially big one, moment-wise, and I couldn’t be happier about who hit it. After the Cubs failed to score runs (despite plenty of opportunities) in the first, second, and third inning, Kris Bryant came through with a huge 3-run blast in the bottom of the fourth.
Kris Bryant smashed a 3-run homer to give the @Cubs a 4-1 lead headed to the 5th. #CubsSocialpic.twitter.com/eGN3NUnDVx
— CSN Chicago (@CSNChicago) September 13, 2017
According to Statcast, that ball was struck at 105 MPH and traveled 408 feet, the Cubs’ furthest of the night. It also gave the Cubs a 4-1 lead, meaning it was the decisive knock before we even knew it.
The FanGraphs win probability chart estimates that this homer increased the Cubs odds of winning by roughly 30%, so, yeah, it was a big one. And again, I’m happy that Kris Bryant was the guy to do it, because although that wasn’t necessarily a high-leverage moment, it was certainly great to see Bryant come through in a big moment (two outs, tied game, plenty of missed opportunities already).
The next homer came from Kyle Schwarber, who hasn’t had a chance to start too many games lately.
Schwarber sent his blast out in the fifth inning, creating more breathing for the Cubs and Jose Quintana to work comfortably. And although Bryant’s probably made us cheer more given the moment, seeing Schwarber connect on this shot was very heartening:
They’re dancing in the bullpen after @kschwarb12 smacked his 26th homer as the @Cubs lead 5-2. #CubsSocial
💻: https://t.co/GwwD71AfOGpic.twitter.com/rS6vxsnwnL
— Cubs Talk (@CSNCubs) September 13, 2017
That homer was part of a huge night at the plate for Schwarber, but we’re going to get into that in greater detail later. Suffice it to say, I was glad that, for at least one night, my pleas to reinsert him into the starting lineup didn’t look silly. Statcast had that one at 98 MPH and 382 feet.
And finally, the last Cubs homer of the night belonged to Ian Happ. Like Schwarber’s, Happ’s homer didn’t quite reach the 400-foot plateau (392 feet), but he did crank it out at 104 MPH.
Ian Happ tryna get in on the limelight… must’ve been sick of holding the boom mic himself pic.twitter.com/df5ZeFvGce
— Cubs Talk (@CSNCubs) September 13, 2017
Although the runs were ultimately unnecessary, the homer sure felt like it was the one to put the game away. It also made the fan who caught it momentarily lose his mind in excitement:
Find someone who looks at you the way this #Cubs fan looks at Happ's home run ball in the seventh: pic.twitter.com/JKzA33HcJL
— Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) September 13, 2017
And here’s your updated Cubs home run leaderboards:
