Chicago Cubs have plenty of experience in torturous, extra-inning baseball

Chicago Cubs: Rockies shut down Cubs offense in Wild Card game

The Cubs’ demise at the hands of the Colorado Rockies in the 2018 Wild Card game is the most recent matchup that comes to mind. This grueling game lasted four hours and 55 minutes in the longest postseason contest ever at Wrigley Field. Ultimately, the matchup ended with the Rockies eliminating the Cubs from the postseason picture with a 2-1 victory.

The game featured very little offense but the Rockies got started right off the bat in the top of the first inning. Charlie Blackmon led the game off with a walk and D.J. LeMahieu followed that up with a ground-rule double. The next batter, Nolan Arenado then drove in Blackmon from third on a sac fly to center field.

After the first inning, Jon Lester did his best to keep the Cubs within striking distance. He settled in and struck out nine batters over his six innings of work, allowing just four hits and one walk.

With the Cubs trailing early, the pressure was immediately on the offense to get the bats going against a young pitcher in Kyle Freeland. However, the left-hander rose to the occasion, shutting the Cubs out over the course of 6 2/3 innings. He allowed just four hits and one walk, striking out six batters.

The Cubs offense had their best chance to strike in the seventh inning when they finally got Freeland out of the game. With Albert Almora already on first base, the new pitcher Adam Ottavino uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Almora to move up to second base. Ottavino then walked Willson Contreras and pinch hitter Tommy La Stella reached first base on a catcher’s interference.