NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Cubs didn’t wind up with nearly enough Ws by the end of last season (84-78), but that doesn’t mean there weren’t some extremely memorable moments throughout the year – for example … SIX different Cubs players delivered knock-out, walk-off punches, four of which were home runs.
Walk-offs aren’t the *only* extremely exciting type of play in baseball, but they sure are right up there. Perhaps we should re-enjoy them in our time of need.
The first walk-off of the season for the Cubs came courtesy of Mr. Walk-off, himself, David Bote. Remember this one among his many walk-offs already?
.@DavidBote13's 4th career walk-off RBI!#EverybodyIn pic.twitter.com/uYTskYNb82
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 21, 2019
As the Cubs pointed out in their tweet above, that was already the fourth walk-off of David Bote’s very young career. How young was it? Bote had taken ONLY 260 PLATE APPEARANCES in his entire career by that point in time. How in the world does someone manage four walk-off hits, including three homers, before reaching 300 big league plate appearances? That is NUTS.
And it’s also far from the only unique or crazy thing about this particular hit.
Let’s run it back, as a treat.
How it happened:
The Chicago Cubs had managed just FOUR hits before reaching the 9th inning at Wrigley Field last April 21st, as Diamondbacks starter Robbie Ray kept them in check for most of the afternoon (6.0 IP, 4H, 1ER, 1BB, 4Ks). Fortunately, Tyler Chatwood (filling in for Jon Lester) was also on top of his game, allowing just 2 hits and 2 walks through 6.0 scoreless innings of his own, for what was ultimately the second best start of his Cubs career (71 Game Score).
But Bote’s walk-off was almost unnecessary.
Heading into the 9th inning, the Cubs had a 1-0 lead, but were in the middle of those frustrating post-Brandon Morrow, pre-Craig Kimbrel days. So interim closer Pedro Strop took the mound, and after getting a relatively quick first out allowed a game-tying home run to Jarrod Dyson (Dyson had just 17 career home runs in 10 seasons to that point … naturally). Strop got the next two outs easy enough and we were off to the ninth.
That’s where the fun started.
Javy Baez led things off with a slap double down the first base line (don’t see a lot of those from him) and advanced to third on a relatively weird and somewhat lazy fielding error by Adam Jones. Willson Contreras was up next and immediately took first on a hit-by-pitch, which set up our walk-off moment from Bote.
But the craziest part of this entire story – what makes it truly incredible – is that immediately after David Bote delivered that hit he had to take off. Literally. He had to go catch a plane, because his wife was going into labor! Like right then!
#OnTheDiamond: Today's hero, @DavidBote13, catches up with @Kelly_Crull…before catching a REALLY IMPORTANT FLIGHT. (@JandSJewelers) pic.twitter.com/b7eTiZbatV
— Cubs Talk (@NBCSCubs) April 21, 2019
Bote finds out his third kid will be born tonight, watches the Cubs' quickest game of the year get extended by a blown save, takes it upon himself to end the game and bolts immediately for the airport to join his wife in Colorado.
His story just keeps getting better and better.
— Tony Andracki (@TonyAndracki23) April 21, 2019
Anthony Rizzo has some jokes …
I didn't realize this initially, but Rizzo joked postgame about how David Bote's third kid being born tonight is a "grand slam baby."
It's exactly 36 weeks (and a little over 8 months) since Bote's ultimate grand slam.
— Tony Andracki (@TonyAndracki23) April 21, 2019
Oh, Bote. You dog.
