The top of the ninth inning was a little too nerve-racking for my liking, but the Chicago Cubs got the 5-4 win and David Bote was a big reason why they held on against the San Diego Padres.
Pedro Strop came on to get the save and it looked ugly right away, as he gave up a hit and walked the second batter in the inning. Then, things got worse after Ian Happ badly misplayed a ball in left that went right over his head for an RBI-double. The Padres cut the deficit down to 5-3, and had runners at second and third with no one out.
San Diego scored one more run on a fielder’s choice ground out to first base and then Bote made the game-saving play with the tying run at third base and only one out.
Lightening quick transfer by Bote after fielding the ball and then he threw a perfect strike to Victor Caratini at home to get the tying run out in plenty of time.
Then, Strop finished off the save.
Pedro Strop, Nasty 84mph Slider….and pitching with emotion. 😷 pic.twitter.com/frMKrHal78
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 3, 2018
