The Chicago Cubs pulled off a stunning comeback Thursday night, erasing a five-run deficit with four runs in the final inning to defeat the Athletics 7-6 in dramatic fashion.
Dansby Swanson came through with the game-tying hit while Pete Crow-Armstrong delivered the walk-off single that sealed the victory for Chicago, who had struggled recently with only three wins in their previous 17 contests.
Crow-Armstrong also contributed a solo home run earlier in the game, while Ian Happ powered a two-run homer and drove in three runs total for the Cubs.
The Athletics received strong offensive performances from Shea Langeliers, who connected for two home runs including a rare inside-the-park blast. Tyler Soderstrom and Jonah Heim also homered for the visiting team, but their efforts weren’t enough to complete a series sweep.
The ninth-inning collapse fell on Joel Kuhnel (1-2), who couldn’t preserve a three-run advantage for the Athletics. Michael Busch started the rally with a leadoff double and came around to score on Happ’s one-out double, cutting the deficit to 6-4. Nico Hoerner followed with a base hit to put runners at first and third.
After Hoerner was caught stealing for the second out, Moises Ballesteros managed an infield hit that brought Happ home. Pinch-hitter Seiya Suzuki then reached base safely with another single to left field.
Swanson’s clutch hit to center field off Luis Medina evened the score at 6-6, setting the stage for Crow-Armstrong’s soft single to right field that brought Suzuki home with the winning run.
Ryan Rolison (4-1) earned the victory after throwing 1 2/3 scoreless innings and recording three strikeouts for Chicago.
Athletics starter J.T. Ginn turned in a quality performance, allowing just one run on two hits across six innings while striking out eight and walking one batter.
Chicago’s Shota Imanaga endured his worst outing of the season, surrendering a career-high four home runs over six-plus innings. He was charged with six runs on six hits while striking out five and walking one.
The game remained scoreless through three innings before Langeliers opened the scoring in the fourth with an opposite-field drive that barely cleared the ivy-covered wall in right-center field.
The Athletics extended their lead in the sixth when Williams drew a walk with one out and scored on Henry Bolte’s double to left-center field.
Langeliers added to his night with two outs when he lifted a fly ball to center field that Crow-Armstrong misjudged completely. The outfielder stood motionless with his arms outstretched as the ball landed roughly 30 feet behind him, allowing Langeliers to circle the bases for an inside-the-park home run.
The Cubs finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth when Crow-Armstrong crushed an 0-2 slider from Ginn into the right field seats.
The Athletics appeared to put the game away in the seventh inning when Soderstrom launched the fifth pitch from Imanaga over the left-center field wall. Two pitches later, Heim followed with his own blast to center, giving the visitors a commanding 6-1 advantage.
Chicago responded immediately in their half of the seventh against reliever Scott Barlow. Alex Bregman led off with a double, and Happ followed with a towering 446-foot home run to right field that brought the Cubs within three runs and set up their eventual comeback.
