Well, it may have taken them 10 innings (and roughly four hours), but the Cubs offense woke up long enough to win the game.
Heading into extra innings, Willson Contreras took quick advantage of the courtesy/ghost runner with a go-ahead double and Patrick Wisdom added a couple of insurance runs on a monster, two-run blast. Those were the only hits of the night for Contreras and Wisdom, but they were VERY well timed.
Of course, the Cubs also scored three runs earlier in the game, continuing to make use of as much contact as possible (fielder’s choice RBI, sac fly), but they were quiet after the third and until the tenth. It didn’t help that the Braves used EIGHT pitchers throughout today’s 4 hour+ game, but, hey … as long as teams have extra arms at their disposal, they’ll use them.
The Cubs used seven pitchers, themselves, including their top four relievers (in order of appearance): Keegan Thompson, Mychal Givens, David Robertson, and Rowan Wick (who locked down the save in the 10th). Yes, Thompson’s scoreless streak ended and yes Givens gave up a couple of runs late to tie the game, but this bullpen has done almost everything you could reasonably hope this year. And then some.
Anyway, good team win. I needed that one. Emotionally … psychologically. You name it.