Chicago Cubs Walk-Off Homer Continues Crosstown Rival's Unfavorable Streak

Not only did the Chicago Cubs earn a series sweep in dramatic fashion, but they also extended a brutal streak for their crosstown rival Chicago White Sox in the process.

Jun 5, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Mike Tauchman (40) rounds the bases after hitting a walk-off home run against the Chicago White Sox during the ninth inning at Wrigley Field | Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

It's been a tough stretch for the Chicago Cubs, one that has really put their NL Central title hopes in jeopardy as they were contending at the top with the Milwaukee Brewers before a brutal close to May put them multiple games back.

What they needed was to get right against their crosstown rival Chicago White Sox, the worst team in Major League Baseball, in a two-game slate at home before hitting the road for seven contests.

It looked like that might not happen early on in their opener as they trailed by five runs before a rain delay offered them some hope they might be able to mount a comeback.

The Cubs were able to do just that, taking the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning on an Ian Happ two-run double that allowed them to win 7-6.

History repeated itself on Wednesday night.

With the White Sox leading for the early portion of the game, the Cubs took the lead in the seventh by scoring three runs. That disappeared quickly in the next frame as Paul DeJong's homer tied things at six apiece.

Then, another Cub played hero.

Mike Tauchman hit his fifth homer of the year, and the most important to date, blasting a solo shot 389 feet to center field that gave Chicago a win over their city rivals.

Not only was this an important win for the Cubs, cutting their deficit in the NL Central to five games, but they also twisted the knife into the White Sox as they now have tied their franchise record for the most consecutive losses in franchise history with 13.

That's 13 consecutive losses for the Chicago White Sox, this time on a walk-off homer by by Cubs DH Mike Tauchman.
It matches their longest losing streak in franchise history.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) June 6, 2024

While these two don't play in the same league, one being in the NL and the other in the AL, and the Cubs will always be the more popular franchise in the city of Chicago, it still feels good no matter what to put down the little brother, especially when it adds to the futility that this season has presented.

Hopefully, this is a momentum-builder for the Cubs.

They desperately need it as they have fallen off in their division race and will need a Wild Card berth if they're going to be playing playoff baseball.

Because of this win, they now enter their road trip holding the second spot in the Wild Card race, a position they were completely out of just a few days ago.