“An Amazing Win” at Wrigley

May 7, 2025 | 2025 Season, Latest Post

by
Greek Giant

In the Giants 14-5, 11-inning win at Wrigley Field over the Cubs last night the boys in black and orange scored nine runs in the top of the final frame. That’s not a typo. It’s also a Wrigley Field record for most runs scored in an extra inning. After Ryan Walker and Erik Miller blew a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the ninth the Giants answered back with a crazy, brilliant, and amazing 11th inning. The inning was so long that I am just going to list the bullet points. Dave Fleming was right to call this “An Amazing Win.”

Here is the top of the 11th inning with Cubs reliever Ryan Pressley on the mound:

  • Wade at second base (replaced by pinch-runner Koss)
  • Koss doubles, Koss to third (He should have scored)
  • Bailey singles to center, Koss scores
  • Wisely sac bunt over the head of the first baseman, Ramos scores
  • Yaz walks
  • Adames hit by pitch, Bailey scores
  • Lee singles, Wisely scores
  • Chapman singles, Adames scores
  • Flores singles, Lee scores
  • Koss strikes out
  • Ramos doubles, Chapman scores
  • Bailey sac fly to center, Flores scores

That’s how it ended, 14-5! Erik Miller earned the win and Kyle Harrison closed out the game with a scoreless 11th inning.

It should have ended 5-3 but for Ryan Walker. He began the bottom of the ninth in a move that demonstrates faith in the hurler or complete insanity on the part of Giants Manager Bob Melvin. That makes four blown saves in a row for Walker, the former impeccable reliever. I never want to see him pitch in the ninth inning again. If he does, Melvin should be immediately run out town and his Manager’s license should be revoked so he can never do harm to any team in the land again, even in Little League!  It. happened this way, last night: Walker walked Pet Crow Armstrong to start the ninth, an unforgivable pitching sin. Then, after striking out a very hot Dansby Swanson, Walker walks Carson Kelly. Both of those walks scored, one by a single by Turner and one by a single by Tucker, the latter getting his hit off Erik Miller. Miller got the final two outs of the inning with runners on first and third and the Cubs fans waiting for another come from behind inning. Kudos to Miller for limiting the damage.

The Giants began the scoring in the top of the when a Wade single put Chapman on third with one out. Ramos then hit a dribbler to Cubs third baseman John Berti who mistakenly thought about throwing home. He then decided to go to first and his throw was late. The hesitation cost him an and a run was in with no out recorded. Bad defense has been a theme in both games for both teams in this series. A Bailey sac fly to left scored LaMonte to make it 2-0 Giants but the Cubs answered in the bottom of the second inning off Giants starter Justin Verlander, who once again deserved better. It is now safe to say that Verlander is cursed while wearing a Giants. uniform. He could easily have four wins with decent luck. But nope! Misplays by Wisely and timely hits by the Cubs lead to two runs in the bottom of the third inning after a Lee homer to right in the top of the third inning made it 4-0.

Verlander would end up pitching five innings and allowing three runs on five hits. His stuff was solid and his composure golden. His body language after tough luck and mis-plays has been professional and stoic. I am starting to like the guy. I hope his curse is lifted. He needs a witch doctor or an Exorcist.

If the Giants are serious about winning then they need to do better than Brett Wisely at second base.

This was an unforgettable win. Is it me or does it seem like the Cubs-Giants gams have a certain extra special intensity? It seems like the teams don’t like each other and they play very, very hard against each other.

The Highlights

 

Today’s Game

It is Ray versus Brown at 1:20 PM in the Windy City for the Rubber Game of the three-game set. It should be a good one.