The Chicago Cubs bunted on back-to-back at-bats to take a 2-1 lead over the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Chicago Cubs lost the first game of the National League Divisional Series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night and were looking to bounce back on Saturday. Things got off to a rough start when the Cardinals’ Matt Carpenter hit a leadoff solo home run in the first inning.
Joe Maddon had something up his sleeves for the second inning. The Cubs dialed up back-to-back safety squeeze plays to bring in some runs. For those unfamiliar with the term, it is when a player bunts with a runner on third to bring him home.
A throwing error got Austin Jackson to second base and then he stole third to set up the first safety squeeze bunt from Kyle Hendricks. Miguel Montero had been walked between Jackson and Hendricks’ at-bats.
Then Hendricks reached second after a throwing error and Montero got to third to set up the second squeeze play. Addison Russell bunted to drive in the second run and take the lead.
They added a third run on the next at-bat. Dexter Fowler hit an infield single to shortstop, but he bobbled the ball allowing Fowler to reach first base safely. Fowler’s single allowed Hendricks to score.
A two-run homer from Jorge Soler extended the lead to 5-1.
A five-run inning is the kind of momentum the Cubs needed.
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