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Chicago Cubs History: Ranking the Theo Epstein era’s top 10 moments
Chicago Cubs: Outside of winning the World Series, beating the rival Cardinals in the postseason might have been the sweetest feeling in the world for Cubs fans
10.13.15. Wrigley Field was buzzing with anticipation as the Cubs held a 2-1 series lead over the 100-win Cardinals in the NLDS. The game began at 3:38 PM and the 101-year old ballpark was drenched in a golden glow from the Chicago October sunset. John Lackey taking on Jason Hammel.
Stephen Piscotty hit a two-run shot in the top of the first to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead, but the Cubs rallied for four runs in the bottom of the second. Javier Baez hit his first career postseason home run, a three-run homer, to the opposite field to cap off the second inning rally. Wrigley Field was shaking violently as Baez ran the bases, and Lackey had steam coming out of his ears. The Cardinals tied it up in the top of the sixth, but Anthony Rizzo gave the Cubs the lead back in the bottom of the inning with a solo home run to right. 5-4 going to the seventh.
Then, Kyle Schwarber cemented his legacy in Cubs history.
Leading off the bottom of the seventh, Schwarber turned on a 1-1 Kevin Siegrist pitch and blasted it on top of the right field video board. While only a solo shot in the scorecard, it felt like it was worth so much more. Following the seventh, Pedro Strop shut down the eighth inning, and closer Hector Rondon came on to close it in the ninth. He got Tony Cruz to groundout, Mark Reynolds to strikeout, gave up a single to Matt Carpenter, then struck out Piscotty on three pitches to clinch it.
This victory marked the first postseason series win for the Cubs at Wrigley Field. It also broke a streak of four consecutive years the Cardinals made it to the NLCS or further. The “Lovable Losers” took down the closest team the National League has to the New York Yankees. For once, the Cubs were truly “on top” in the rivalry. It was a joyous night in Wrigleyville as the fans flooded the streets in celebration.