What a game. From a four-run deficit early to a tight game to another four-run deficit to a thrilling comeback, capped by a Pete Crow-Armstrong grand slam in the 7th, to what became another blowout win by the Cubs. I knew the runs could come quickly and easily in this ballpark, but you don’t necessarily expect to go from a four-run deficit in the 7th to a seven-run win. Thank you, Great American, and thank you, 2025 Cubs offense.
The Cubs didn’t exactly light up Hunter Greene and his 100 mph fastball, but they did (1) put up a couple runs, and (2) push him past the 80 pitch mark in just four innings of work. That’s about the best you can shoot for against him right now, and it can set the offense up to face a Reds bullpen that came into the game with the 6th best ERA in the league, but peripherals that SCREAMED “regression is coming.”
Well, regression arrived in the form of a PCA grand slam, a Seiya Suzuki three-run homer, and a Dansby Swanson two-run homer.
For PCA, it was his second home run of the game, and yes, he’s getting the Ankin Law “Making It Personal” Player of the Game honors for this one. He is just having a ridiculous, ridiculous season, and tonight was a monster game. The grand slam is going to be a memorable moment, I’m already quite sure.
Big night for Seiya Suzuki, too, as he and PCA battle for the NL RBI lead. Nico Hoerner also notched three hits, and he has his season slash line to over league average now.
On the pitching side, the bullpen was nails after Julian Merryweather struggled (again), and after Matthew Boyd was uncharacteristically off (some bad luck mixed in, too).
Great win. Great, fun win.
