Cubs come Alive as they even up the NLCS at 2 Games a Piece

By Djack

Coming into this game all the pressure was on the Chicago bats to produce. A lot of pressure was falling onto the Cubs, after winning 103 games in the regular season, it just looked like they had lost their mojo in this series. They've been playing uptight, meanwhile the Dodgers are playing loose just having fun playing the best game in the world, and the Cubs all the meanwhile have the 108 year drought in the back of their minds. Tonight, the cubs knew they had to make a statement, and they knew this was a must win game. They certainly played with those things in the back of their mind tonight because they returned to regular season form, clearly showing that you can't keep this lineup quiet for long. Julio Urias, a 20 year phenom, took the mound to start game 4 for the Dodgers. Urias looked great through the first 3 innings, he didn't allow a hit, he did walk 2 batters, but he also struck out 4. So he was cruising through 3 innings of work, as the Cubs bats continued to struggle. Then came the fourth inning, Ben Zobrist lead off the inning, now he has been struggling mightily in the postseason, yet Joe Maddon continued to show trust in him leaving him in the 3 spot. Slumping heavily, Zobrist did the best thing a hitter can do when they're slumping and just can't find a way to get on base, he bunted. He laid down a textbook bunt, busted his ass down the line, and got himself a single to lead of the inning. Javy Baez, one of the few Cubs hitters producing in this postseason, followed that up with a base hit. Wilson Contreras would then get a single as well driving in Ben Zobrist for the first run of the game. This would be the first run the Cubs have scored in the last 21 innings in this NLCS series. Baez would then score on a fielders choice making the score two nothing. Addison Russell who has been the worst of the worst for the Cubs in this postseason which is saying a lot, finally broke through, and hit a two run blast to make the score 4-0. Urias would exit the game after getting the next batter out, leaving the Dodgers bullpen with a lot of innings to eat up. The Cubs weren't even close to done raking either, Anthony Rizzo would then break out of his slump and hit a solo shot in the fifth to add to the score making it 5-0. The Dodgers would get 2 runs back in the bottom of that inning, but then the Cubs came right back in the sixth adding four mores in a merry go round of an inning. Ultimately putting the nail the coffin for game 4. Who would've thought that a bunt single by the Cubs 3 hitter would get the Cubs bats back to their juggernaut ways. I don't know if it was Zobrist's call to bunt or if Joe Maddon called it in, but the 3 hitter bunting is something I don't think I've ever seen before, and I absolutely love it. If Joe Maddon made the call he's an absolute genius, if Ben Zobrist made the call on his own he's a fucking gamer, that takes a special kind of team player to lay down a bunt when your one of the best hitters on the team. That's team baseball right there, that's the stuff that wins you rings, it's the little things that make all the difference in baseball, they call it the game of inches for a reason. After watching the Cubs catch fire tonight, I believe they will now steam roll the competition the rest of the  way. As much as I'd love to see the Cubs keep their identity as the lovable losers, I just really think this is the turning point in the war. This is the battle of Saratoga in the American Revolution, the Cubs needed not just a win tonight, they needed to send a message. People were saying the Dodgers were in the Cubs heads, the Cubs proved that theory wrong tonight as they put a merciless beat down on this Dodgers team. Cubs are going to win the next 2 games, regardless if Clayton Kershaw pitches, which he will. The Cubs looked like they lacked confidence as group, playing super tense, the Dodgers had a chance to land a fatal blow tonight, instead they let the Cubs find their groove, and get their mojo back. Cubs in 6, Indians vs Cubs for the world series crown is what I see in my crystal ball of common sense, Dodgers had their chance couldn't capitalize, now their fresh salmon for these young Cubs to feast on. Atta boy Cubbies, way to bounce back, show composure, and kick ass.