Although the first game was just seven innings, the Cubs did the right thing to allow the score to be tied a couple times in the second game, forcing nine innings. Thus, it was totally a real doubleheader. And the Cubs swept it!
Turns out, it’s been a really long time since they’ve done that, and a really REALLY long time since they’ve done it against a team like the Dodgers:
#Cubs: first doubleheader sweep since 8/16/2016 vs Brewers
First doubleheader sweep vs previous season's World Series champs since 7/4/1980 at Pirates
— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) May 5, 2021
Almost five years since the last doubleheader sweep? Good lord. I felt like it had been a while, but I didn’t know it’d been THAT long. Enjoy the moment, and watch the highlights from the game one blowout of Clayton Kershaw/great Kyle Hendricks performance:
And then the game two extra-innings, comeback thriller:
In-crowd shots of the walk-off aftermath, just for fun:
Just the best day of the 2021 season, so far. The doubleheader sweep of the Dodgers capped by a @DavidBote13 #walkoff celebration! @Cubs @BleacherNation @realcubsinsider #CubTogether pic.twitter.com/yPx5BtWnU4
— MBDChicago (@MBDChicago) May 5, 2021
The doubleheader sweep bumped the Cubs up the NL Central standings, to the extent you’re thinking about such things this early in the year:
From worst to … third. One doubleheader sweep later and the Cubs are no longer in last place in the NL Central. They're in third! pic.twitter.com/tyL3QY50x8
— Bleacher Nation Cubs (@BleacherNation) May 5, 2021