Chicago Cubs: Top five wins in the Joe Maddon era

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Jake Arrieta, Chicago Cubs (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

We take a look at the top five wins in the Chicago Cubs in the Joe Maddon era, as this city and team experienced so many memorable moments in his five-year tenure with the team

With the world ultimately put on pause, it’s a perfect time to reminisce. The Chicago Cubs under Joe Maddon gave us countless moments to look back on with a smile. From the surprise NLCS run in 2015 to the breaking of the unbearable 108-year curse, Cubs fans got to experience it all under Maddon. Picking out the five best is nearly impossible, but choosing five of the most memorable is what we will take a look at.

5. Chicago Cubs 2015 Wild Card Game: Cubs 4, Pirates 0

The sudden death showdown in Pittsburgh cracks the top-five, as this was arguably the game that put the Cubs on the map. The 2015 Cubs racked up 97 wins, good for third-most in all of baseball. The only unlucky part is that the two teams in front of them happened to be the Pirates and Cardinals, ultimately putting them into the Wild Card game.

The Cubs traveled to Pittsburgh as we watched Jake Arrieta outduel Gerrit Cole. Arrieta threw a complete game shutout with 11 strikeouts and was aided by the excellent home run shot into the Allegheny River by Kyle Schwarber. A truly memorable day for the Cubs as they picked up their first postseason win since 2003.

Willson Contreras, Chicago Cubs (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) /

4. Chicago Cubs 2017 NLDS Game 5: Cubs 9, Nationals 8

One of the wildest games you’ll ever watch, and it just happened to be an elimination game in October. The Nationals led 4-1 early, but the Cubs found a way to score seven unanswered to go up 8-4. The Nationals would try to chip away but would fall short 9-8.

A sloppy, sloppy game of baseball, as we saw the Cubs score runs in all of these ways:

· Jayson Werth missed fly ball (1)

· Passed ball on a Javier Baez strikeout (1)

· John Jay hit by pitch (1)

· Gio Gonzalez wild pitch (1)

· Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, and Addison Russell groundout’s (3)

Many that played said it was the craziest game they’ve ever been apart of. The Cubs were given this game, and they were propelled to their third straight National League Championship Series as a result.

3. Chicago Cubs 2016 NLDS Game 4: Cubs 6, Giants 5

The clincher in the Bay finds its way into the top-3, as we watched the Cubs pull off one of the most improbable comebacks to advance to the NLCS. Entering the ninth inning, the Cubs had a 2.5% chance to win.

Maddon expressed his concern if the Cubs were to lose this game, as they would’ve faced Johnny Cueto in Game 5, a pitcher who dominated them in Game 1 and one that Maddon did not seem entirely confident his team could beat again.

Nonetheless, all of that concern was put to bed in the ninth inning of game 4. Trailing 5-2, we watched a remarkable rally. A Ben Zobrist RBI double, Willson Contreras two-run single, and Baez RBI single gave the Cubs a 6-5 lead, one in which they would not relinquish. A unique game and one that still gives fans chill thinking about.

Hector Rondon, Chicago Cubs (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images) /

2. Chicago Cubs 2015 NLDS Game 4: Cubs 6, Cardinals 4

The Cubs found themselves against the best team in all of baseball (aka their archrival), with a chance to clinch their first postseason series win at home. An unforgettable day at Wrigley Field.

Led by home runs by Baez, Rizzo and Schwarber, the Cubs took a 5-4 lead in the 6th inning and did not give it back. Schwarber sent a ball into the new video board in the seventh to cushion the lead, and we watched Hector Rondon strikeout Stephen Piscotty to cap off one of the most exciting wins in Cubs history. If there was anyone who didn’t believe in the Cubs by now, this was the moment that got everyone on board.

1. Chicago Cubs 2016 World Series Game 7

A no-brainer for the number one spot, as this will go down as the best game in the history of Chicago Cubs baseball. With a 3-1 deficit along with a 108-year curse to overcome, it didn’t seem impossible with this team.

The Cubs were on cruise control in this one, leading 6-3 heading into the bottom of the 8th. All was well until Rajai Davis hit one of the most improbable home runs one will ever see off of Aroldis Chapman to tie the game. It seemed as if things would end with more of the same for this franchise, heartbreak.

Next. 5 forgotten moments from the 2016 World Series. dark

The Cubs were then blessed with a rain delay before the game was sent to extra innings, allowing them to reset and forget about the lead they had just relinquished. That was all they needed as Zobrist became the hero again with his RBI double in the 10th. Mike Montgomery then came on for the most memorable third out of all time, as the Cubs took home the Fall Classic.

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