In a game that will be remembered for years to come, the Chicago Cubs staged a dramatic 14-10 comeback victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday. The Cubs, who were trailing 10-3 at the end of the sixth inning, unleashed an offensive onslaught that saw them score 11 consecutive unanswered runs to turn the game on its head.
This stunning reversal of fortunes places the Cubs in elite company, as they became the first team since the 2019 San Diego Padres to overcome a seven-plus-run deficit in the seventh inning or later. It was a performance that demonstrated both resilience and a never-give-up attitude, hallmarks of championship-caliber teams.
An Unstoppable Offense
Central to this improbable victory was Christian Bethancourt, who joined the Cubs organization on July 5. In only his second game with the team, Bethancourt put on an extraordinary display at the plate, going 3-for-5 and driving in seven runs. His performance fell just a triple short of hitting for the cycle, capping a memorable evening. With this performance, Bethancourt became just the sixth Cubs catcher since 1901 to record seven or more RBIs in a single game.
The offensive surge that carried the Cubs to victory kicked off after Pirates starter Paul Skenes was pulled at the beginning of the sixth inning. This marked Skenes' third career start against the Cubs, and while he had managed to keep the Cubs relatively quiet until then, the bullpen failed to maintain that control.
Relief Pitching Struggles
It was a rough night for the Pirates' relievers. Aroldis Chapman and David Bednar, two of Pittsburgh’s more reliable bullpen arms, combined to surrender eight earned runs on six hits and five walks. Between them, they managed to retire only five batters, effectively opening the floodgates for the Cubs’ offensive explosion.
A Historic Comeback
This victory marks Chicago's fifth instance in the last 50 years of securing a win despite facing a seven-plus-run deficit in the seventh inning or later. No other Major League Baseball team has achieved as many such comebacks over the same period, highlighting the Cubs’ knack for late-game heroics.
Looking ahead, the Cubs will have another shot at the Pirates when they face off in a three-game series next week. For now, though, this extraordinary comeback serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable and thrilling nature of baseball—where no lead is ever truly safe, and heroes can emerge from the most unlikely of circumstances.