Chicago Cubs: My favorite memory vs. every National League team

Chicago Cubs: Miami Marlins

Here, I faced a big dilemma. The then-Florida Marlins are responsible for my worst Cubs memory in 2003. However, before Games 5, 6, and 7 happened, the Cubs took a three games to one lead. Game 3 was an intense 11 inning affair that ended when Luis Castillo got caught in a rundown between second and third base. Aramis Ramirez hit a grand slam in the first inning of Game 4 to help get the Cubs to within one game of the pennant.

I was ecstatic after that Game 4 victory. Do I consider that to be my favorite Cubs-Marlins moment? Or is it overshadowed by what happened afterward?

I looked back to try to find some memorable regular-season moments between these two teams, and they’re just aren’t many. Here are the best examples I could remember:

• July 27, 2008: Mike Fontenot hit a bases-clearing double off Joe Nelson that broke a 6-6 tie in the seventh inning as the Cubs beat the Marlins, 9-6. At the time, the Milwaukee Brewers were bearing down on the Cubs in the NL Central race, so this was a critical victory.
• August 15, 2008: Daryle Ward hit a three-run homer off Kevin Gregg in the top of the ninth in Miami as the Cubs beat the Marlins, 6-5.
• July 4, 2015: Kris Bryant homered twice in the first two innings, including a second-inning grand slam, as the Cubs beat the Marlins, 7-2.
• August 3, 2016: The Cubs rallied for three in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Marlins at Wrigley Field, 5-4.
• May 9, 2018: I was in attendance at Wrigley Field as the Cubs pounded the Marlins, 13-4.

Out of those games, the memory that means the most to me personally is the 2018 game I attended. However, in terms of the best game, I’ll go with the Bryant game from 2015. I suppose there are enough moments not to have to choose one from 2003.