Inside The Cubs

Chicago Cubs Complete Walk-Off Victory in Extra Innings Against Mariners

The Chicago Cubs defeated the Seattle Mariners in extra inning on Monday with an incredible walk-off single from Nico Hoerner.
Kade Kistner|
Chicago Cubs Complete Walk-Off Victory in Extra Innings Against Mariners
Chicago Cubs Complete Walk-Off Victory in Extra Innings Against Mariners

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Nico Hoerner. The hero of Monday night's extra innings walk-off win that propelled the Chicago Cubs (5-4) past the Seattle Mariners (4-7) in 3-2 fashion. A special night for many reasons, but none more so than the fact it was the first walk-off victory of Hoerner's career. 

Monday featured a pitching duel between Mariners ace Luis Castillo and the struggling Drew Smyly. However, the latter turned in one of the best starts he has had in recent memory, put his team in position to win and might have just righted  the ship. 

Smyly pitched 5.0 innings and gave up just one earned run while striking out seven. An encouraging start to say the least. 

Castillo, on the other hand, pitched an equally great game going 6.0 innings and giving up two earned runs. 

Center fielder Cody Bellinger got the scoring started for Chicago in the fourth inning when he notched an RBI-double to right field that scored Ian Happ. 

Eric Hosmer, who has excellent career numbers against Castillo, notched a single that scored Bellinger to give the Cubs a 2-1 lead. 

It was such a close game that only one swing was needed to turn the tide of the game. That swing came via Mariners outfielder Jared Kelenic who launched a 414-foot solo shot in the ninth inning off of Michael Fulmer to tie the game 2-2. 

Finally, in the bottom of the tenth, Nick Madrigal, who was pinch running for Yan Gomes on second as the ghost runner, stole third base. That set him up to easily score home when Nico Hoerner hit a ball to right fielder to let his team walk-off the victors. 

Chicago has shown plenty of fight through the first part of this season and it was on full display on Monday night. They never gave up hope and they never stopped fighting. 

Perhaps this one more situation and moment of success that will help shape this young team's identity. 

They will take the field again on Tuesday at 6:40 p.m. CT to face the Mariners in the second of the three-game series. Hayden Wesneski is due to take the mound. 

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  10. Can Christopher Morel be a Long-Term Solution in Center Field

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Kade Kistner
KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Cubs. An alumnus of Tulane University, Kade graduated in 2017 with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kade commissioned into the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served as a Naval Aviator and was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl. During his time in school and the Navy, Kade began covering the MLB and NFL with USA Today, SB Nation, and Sports Illustrated. Kade covered the New Orleans Saints, Texas Rangers, and numerous other teams within the Sports Illustrated network before launching Inside the Phillies, Inside the Astros, and Inside the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at @KadeKistner, or if you have any questions or comments he can be reached via email at kwkistner@gmail.com.

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