Cincinnati Reds: Three takeaways from walk-off win in extra innings

Yasiel Puig was the hero, but there was more to the Cincinnati Reds’ 6-5 walk-off victory over the Chicago Cubs than the last at-bat.

There is so much to unpack from last night’s 6-5 walk-off win in extra innings. The Cincinnati Reds improved to 7-13 in one-run games and gained a game on the division-leading Chicago Cubs. If you’re a baseball fan, this is the type of game that makes you come back to the ballpark.

The Cincinnati Reds got out to the early lead against the Chicago Cubs when Eugenio Suarez laced a double down the left field line in the bottom the first inning to score Nick Senzel. The 1-0 lead would not hold, as Addison Russell took Sonny Gray deep in his first at-bat to give the Cubs a 2-1 lead.

The Cubbies would play add-on in the top of the 4th inning when Albert Almora went yard with his 3rd homer of the year. A 3-1 Cubs lead would not be safe, however, as later in the inning Jose Iglesias drove in Derek Dietrich on a double to right field.

In the 7th inning, Daniel Descalso hit a pinch-hit sacrifice fly to score Russell and gave the Cubs a 2-run cushion once again. But, Iglesias had other ideas when he launched a solo shot into center field in the bottom half of the 7th to close the gap once again.

The Cubs thought they’d put the game out of reach in the 8th after a Kyle Schwarber bomb to center field. However, Suárez had other ideas. With Joey Votto occupying first base, Suárez went opposite field for his team-leading 13th home run of the season and the game was knotted at 5 apiece.

Nine innings could not contain this rivalry and with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning, The Wild Horse could not be contained either. Yasiel Puig hit the game-winner to center field with the bases loaded and sent the home crowd home happy. Let’s look at the the three biggest takeaways from last night’s dramatic victory.