Chicago Cubs History: Ranking the Theo Epstein era’s top 10 moments

Chicago Cubs: While there are plenty of great regular season moments, three of the top were picked for the 8, 9 and 10 spots on this list

#10. Kris Bryant walk-off home run vs. Colorado Rockies – 7.27.15

In a wild game against the Rockies, the young up-and-coming Cubs were battling a little losing streak right before the trade deadline. In the top of the ninth inning, the Cubs blew a 7-4 lead and found themselves trailing 8-7. Rookie sensation Kris Bryant came up with one on and one out and delivered a game-winning walk-off blast to left-center field, sending Wrigley Field into madness. It was Bryant’s first-career walk-off hit and a win that sparked the Cubs to 97 wins and a trip to the NLCS. The Cubs might have technically begun their run when 2015 started, but this win felt like the true beginning of something great.

#9 Jake Arrieta no-hits the Los Angeles Dodgers – 8.30.15

Once upon a time, Jake Arrieta was so dominant that his starts were guaranteed wins. This was the case in 2015 when he won NL Cy Young honors. His biggest regular season performance that year took place at Dodger Stadium. Televised on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball, the bearded righty put himself on the map as he struck out 12 and walked one in nine no-hit innings. Arrieta got Chase Utley swinging to complete it, and was immediately mobbed by his teammates. This performance was the icing on the cake for an incredible season in which he pitched to a 1.77 ERA, 2.35 FIP, 0.865 WHIP, 9.3 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9.

#8. David Bote walk-off grand slam vs. Washington Nationals – 8.12.18

Bottom of the ninth, down three runs, bases loaded, two outs, two strikes…every kid’s dream scenario. Rookie David Bote was in this very situation when he faced Ryan Madson with the Cubs down 3-0 to the Nationals. He did what every kid playing baseball dreamed of in that scenario, belting a game-winning grand slam to dead center field. The ultimate grand slam. This goes down as one of the best regular season wins in Cubs history and one that will be remembered for a long time. The fans at Wrigley Field who went berserk saw something we had not seen from a Cub, and who knows if/when we see it again. No matter what kind of career Bote ends up having, he will always be remembered for that.