Bryant BM251317

The Cubs and the Rockies met at Coors Field for a Friday evening game on April 20, 2018. Heading into the sixth inning, the game was close with Chicago holding a 5-3 edge. However, the Cubs busted the game open in the top of the sixth inning. By the time Javier Baez came up to bat, the Cubs had three hits, a walk, scored two runs, and had zero outs, and runners on first and second base. Baez hit this ball to left fielder Ian Desmond for a single, scoring Tommy La Stella, and Albert Almora for his 319th career hit and 177th and 178th career RBIs. This ball remained in play, with Baez on first base, and Kris Bryant coming up to bat. Kris Bryant hit the first pitch of the at-bat 391 feet to center fielder Charlie Blackmon for a double advancing Baez to third. There were still no outs in this inning, and after two big hits, this ball was replaced. The next batter hit into a fielder’s choice, reaching first base and advancing Bryant to third as Baez was thrown out at home. Wilson Contreras struck out for the second out of the inning, and then Kyle Schwarber cleared the bases when he hit a three-run home run, scoring Bryant and Anthony Rizzo. Addison Russell ended the inning with a fly out, but the Cubs had put the game out of reach, scoring 7 runs in the inning, on their way to a 16-5 rout. The Cubs record after this win was 9-8, and they sat in fourth place in their division, with only 1.5 games between them and the first place Pirates.