Season-Defining Win? Kimbrel Fire, Bote is a True Pro, Schwarber Was Safe, Humorous Gas, and Other Bullets

Last night’s game was so bonkers that when Tyler Chatwood allowed the first three to reach in the 7th, I closed my computer in frustration, stood up and walked around, put the computer down and walked away, and then just a few minutes later when I wanted to get back on, I couldn’t find the dang thing. Where I had put it down – the middle of the floor in a room I hadn’t been in previously – made absolutely no sense. I still don’t quite know how it happened.

That was a big one last night, not just because it was wild and crazy and fun, but because the Cubs found a way to keep coming back and win a game that they’d otherwise blown twice:

Rizzo on what he described as season-defining win: pic.twitter.com/zBOjtA2GUA

— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) August 22, 2019

The offense bailed out a homer-prone Yu Darvish and a leaky middle of the bullpen. A look at Darvish's crazy K/BB run, a deeper look at a bullpen that may be coming together and wondering if that was a "seminal moment" for the Cubs. https://t.co/A7UWkruniU

— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) August 22, 2019

As Rizzo, Kris Bryant, and Joe Maddon all added, the Cubs haven’t had too many – if any – games like this, where they gave up a ton of runs, but still managed to find a way to win.

Craig Kimbrel’s 9th inning was great again last night, but his first strikeout in particular was just a freaking work of art. Blistering hot fastballs up and away, and then burying a nasty curve down and in. No chance:

A chill 9th inning.

Powered by @Biofreeze. pic.twitter.com/Fj5Hv3yHMk

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 22, 2019

I’m very glad it didn’t matter, but Kyle Schwarber was safe:

Cubs challenge call that Kyle Schwarber is out at home plate in the 8th; call stands, runner is out. Powered by @Mitel. pic.twitter.com/2JJmn68flY

— MLB Replays (@MLBReplays) August 22, 2019

Did you catch Nick Castellanos losing his mind on the bases on Kris Bryant’s 8th inning home run? It was awesome. Also awesome was Bryant’s reaction to the reaction:

Rizzo, on Castellanos' reaction to Bryant's home run: "That's the passion that we've played with. This is the time of year to bring it all out."

Bryant: "I know. I saw that. I thought he sprained his ankle or something." pic.twitter.com/joV9M77H5T

— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) August 22, 2019

Bedding, educational toys for kids, meat slicers, and more are your random Deals of the Day at Amazon.

Like Albert Almora before him, David Bote is a true pro who wanted to get to Iowa immediately to start playing:

David Bote told me he planned to be in the Iowa #Cubs lineup yesterday but his flight to Des Moines got cancelled. Ended up packing his family up and driving to town instead.

— Tommy Birch (@TommyBirch) August 21, 2019

His flight got cancelled, so he just up and grabbed his family to drive. Back to the minor leagues. Bote, by the way, is on a big league contract. No matter. He wants to help the team.

Yup. This is hilarious:

LOL. This is the moment, as captured by @NBCSCubs's GIF-makers. I'm dying. pic.twitter.com/ZzSW9YGO1P https://t.co/esF0ndjFad

— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) August 22, 2019

So, Darvish will call you out for your fart, and also for your stats:

https://twitter.com/faridyu/status/1164391896875241472?s=12

A great read for Cubs Twitter nerds:

For our #35Under35 series at @TheAthleticMLB, I wrote about @AtTravisMiller, @NicoleBersani and @cubs. https://t.co/nBRqbsPXvP

— jon greenberg (@jon_greenberg) August 22, 2019

Lotta great Bears stuff recently:

Bears Reportedly Restructure Charles Leno Jr.’s Deal for Additional Cap Space, But for What/Whom? https://t.co/Nj9goxOCW0 pic.twitter.com/YCV5a2NMyP

— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) August 21, 2019

The Bears’ Kicking Search Was Already Weird, But Now Comes with Conspiracy Theories https://t.co/qiiLSuHn7L pic.twitter.com/CnCOMOphd7

— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) August 21, 2019

You Know What? Can We Give Mitch Trubisky Some of the Credit Already? https://t.co/eQe4Srs3Hl pic.twitter.com/WNFJsu7fNq

— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) August 21, 2019

Plugs:

Not to be lost in the shuffle … pretty nice having this guy at the back of the bullpen, eh?

Shirt: https://t.co/59fEC40yHt pic.twitter.com/iqsd5ZqyDU

— OBVIOUS SHIRTS® (@obvious_shirts) August 22, 2019

ANOTHER hit for Big Stick Nick. That's four on the night, and just in time for his new shirts. Now live at https://t.co/tN24g6VQBn. pic.twitter.com/T2uxYFopnC

— OBVIOUS SHIRTS® (@obvious_shirts) August 22, 2019