Cubs walk off in extra innings against Dodgers

The Chicago Cubs topped the Los Angeles Dodgers on a walk-off single by Albert Almora, Jr., in the 10th inning. (Photo Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports)

by Cole Little - Senior Writer - Wed Jun 20 00:46:54 GMT-04:00 2018

CHICAGO — After an electrifying finish to the afternoon edition of a day-night doubleheader between the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers, the nightcap carried forth with that trend. Hitting a walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th, Albert Almora, Jr., brought an end to a war of attrition, giving the Cubs (41-29) a thrilling 2-1 victory over the Dodgers (38-34).

In the makeup game earlier in the day, the Cubs missed out on several scoring opportunities and ultimately paid the price for it. Tuesday night's matchup saw the Dodgers suffer greatly from the same issue. Leaving a jarring 34 runners stranded, the Dodgers mustered only one run on nine hits and seven walks.

Cubs starting pitcher Mike Montgomery worked himself into multiple jams in his six-inning start and managed to escape all but one of them unscathed. The Dodgers loaded the bases with no outs in the second inning but were unable to score. The Cubs, who left 13 stranded on the evening, loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom half of the inning and were also unable to score.

Dodgers slugger Cody Bellinger finally incited the scoring action in the sixth after drawing a one-out walk against Montgomery. He stole second base with two outs and then came in to score on a single to left by Austin Barnes. That proved to be the lone run given up by Montgomery, who was taken for five hits and four walks, while striking out five, in six innings pitched. He received a no-decision.

With his sole hit of the contest, Cubs left fielder Kyle Schwarber evened the score at one apiece in the seventh on a home run to right against Erik Goeddel. It marked Schwarber's 13th home run and 33rd RBI of the year.

.@kschwarb12 hits 'em hard and hits 'em far. pic.twitter.com/LKg5fYJwSR
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) June 20, 2018

Former Cub Rich Hill started on the mound for Los Angeles and pitched well. Striking out six and giving up three hits and two walks, Hill produced a scoreless six-inning start. He was taken out after throwing 90 pitches through six frames, and it arguably cost the Dodgers.

Almora, Jr., nearly gave the Cubs their first lead in the eighth, when he jacked a double to deep right-center with two outs. However, he was not brought home. In the ninth, though, Almora, Jr., who went 2-5 at the plate, took matters into his own hands when facing off against Dodgers reliever Brock Stewart. Kris Bryant led off the 10th with a triple, and, following an intentional walk of Javier Baez, Almora, Jr., earned his 20th RBI on a shot to right field that scored Bryant. Winning 2-1 in extra innings on the walk-off hit, the Cubs mobbed Almora, Jr., in celebration.