Anthony Rizzo’s walk-off single sends the Chicago Cubs to 6-5, 11-inning win to sweep the Los Angeles Dodgers
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A potential inning-ending double play gone awry nearly cost the Chicago Cubs in extra innings Wednesday.
But Anthony Rizzo’s walkoff single in the bottom the 11th gave the Cubs a 6-5 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers and secured a three-game sweep of the defending champions. Rizzo’s seventh career walk-off hit served as redemption after a miscommunication between the first baseman and shortstop Javier Báez in the top of the inning. Matt Duffy’s RBI single to center field set the stage for Rizzo following a walk by Tony Wolters.
“In that situation obviously hit it where they’re not standing,” Rizzo said. “It worked out this time.”
The Cubs swept the Dodgers in a three-game series at Wrigley Field for the first time since May 26-28, 2008.
The Cubs were set up to get out of the top of the 11th with the game tied. Dodgers outfielder Matt Beaty hit a grounder to Rizzo, who threw to Báez at second base. Báez thought Rizzo stepped on first base and tagged the baserunner, Will Smith, to complete what he thought was a double play. However, Rizzo wanted to keep the force in play at second base and was expecting a return throw to end the inning. Instead, the Cubs got only one out in the sequence and Max Muncy scored from third to put the Dodgers ahead 5-4.
“That’s just one of those plays that you run in your head before, depending on how hard the ball’s hit and everything to my backside, to my back hand,” Rizzo said. “I knew if I touched the base and went home it would’ve been do or die. So I actually kind of tightroped first base, not touching it purposely to just get the double play 6-3. But I don’t think Javy saw that.
“I probably should’ve been screaming, ‘One, one, one.’ Usually if I step on the bag, you’re yelling, ‘Tag, tag, tag.’ It just didn’t work out.”
Regardless of how it played out, the Cubs recovered for a big win with their second consecutive walk-off victory.
Cubs outfielder Joc Pederson nearly hit a game-winning home run off his former team in the 10th, but his fly ball to right field was caught on the warning track. His sacrifice fly brought home the tying run. An intentional walk to Kris Bryant and Báez brought Willson Contreras to the plate with the bases loaded and one out in the 10th, but he hit into a double play to send it to the 11th.
Cubs infielder Anthony Rizzo, center, celebrates with his teammates after his walk-off single in the 11th inning against the Dodgers on May 5, 2021, at Wrigley Field.
© Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune