The Chicago Cubs made history in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates by drawing six bases-loaded walks in the fifth inning, the most by a major league team in a single inning in 65 years. The last team to accomplish this feat was the Chicago White Sox in 1959. In this game, the inning began with Pirates rookie Paul Skenes giving up two hits in his big league debut, leading to him being replaced by Kyle Nicolas. Nicolas struggled, throwing 12 straight pitches outside the strike zone to bring in three runs. The Cubs ended up needing three more pitchers to get through the inning, which included a 2-hour, 20-minute rain delay.
Josh Fleming entered the game and walked Yan Gomes on five pitches, followed by an infield single to Mike Tauchman. Another pitcher, Colin Holderman, then came in and walked two more batters to give Chicago an 8-6 lead after trailing 6-1 entering the frame. The Pirates threw 55 pitches in the inning, with only 20 being strikes. Despite this, they retook the lead on Yasmani Grandal’s 3-run homer in the bottom half of the inning and held on to win the game 10-9.
This historic inning showcased the struggles of the Pirates’ pitching staff, as they were unable to find the strike zone and allowed the Cubs to capitalize on their mistakes. The Cubs’ patience at the plate paid off, leading to a significant lead change in the game. The fact that six bases-loaded walks occurred in a single inning is a rare occurrence in baseball, highlighting the unusual nature of this game. The Cubs took advantage of the opportunities presented to them and were able to build a lead as a result.
The game featured a number of pitching changes by both teams as they tried to navigate the difficult conditions and the challenge of facing disciplined batters. The Cubs’ ability to patiently wait for walks and capitalize on the Pirates’ struggles ultimately played a key role in the outcome of the game. Despite the Pirates briefly regaining the lead with a 3-run homer, the Cubs’ late offensive surge proved to be too much for Pittsburgh to overcome. The back-and-forth nature of the game made for an exciting and memorable contest for both teams and fans watching.
