The Chicago Cubs put collectively one of many oddest seven-run innings you will ever see on Saturday in opposition to the Pittsburgh Pirates (field rating). The Cubs confronted 4 completely different Pirates pitchers through the fifth inning, together with the debuting Paul Skenes, and waited out a rain delay. Nonetheless, they scored six of these seven runs by drawing bases-loaded walks. (Sure, you learn that proper.)
That is essentially the most bases-loaded walks in an inning by any MLB crew for the reason that White Sox walked eight occasions with the luggage full in opposition to the A’s on April 22, 1959, per Sarah Langs of MLB.com.
Michael Tauchman (double) and Seiya Suzuki (infield single) reached in opposition to Skenes to start the fifth inning. The Pirates then eliminated Skenes in favor of reliever Kyle Nicolas, who struck out Cody Bellinger and Christopher Morel. At that time, the Cubs’ rally seemed to be on life assist. But Nicolas then hit Ian Happ with a pitch, and that is the place the inning started to go off the rails.
Nicolas walked Nico Hoerner on 4 pitches, then Michael Busch on 4 pitches, after which Miles Mastrobuoni on one other 4 pitches. At that time, the Pirates mercifully made a pitching change, inserting veteran lefty Josh Fleming. Alas, he suffered an identical destiny. Fleming walked Yan Gomes and allowed an infield single to Tauchman. That tied the sport at 6-6. To suppose, the Pirates held a 6-1 lead when the inning started, and had recorded two outs earlier than permitting a run within the body.
The sport then entered right into a rain delay that lasted greater than an hour. When play resumed, the Pirates went to yet one more pitcher, right-hander Colin Holderman. You may guess what occurred subsequent. Yup, Holderman issued two extra bases-loaded walks: one to Suzuki and one other to Bellinger, giving the Cubs a seven-run body and an 8-6 lead.
Holderman did, lastly, retire Nick Madrigal on a line out to middle to finish the inning.
This is the kicker, by the best way: Chicago’s lead was short-lived. Catcher Yasmani Grandal launched a three-run dwelling run within the backside half of the fifth to place the Pirates up 9-8. The Pirates gained by a 10-9 closing.
