Monday, September 23, 2019

11

It was a rough weekend in Chicago for the Cubs and their fans, as the North Siders dropped five consecutive one-run games for the first time in over 100 years. While a NL Central title is out of reach for 2019, an NL Wild Card berth is still possible, if unlikely. From here on out, we'll track that CMN.

Saturday's game was a battle from start to finish, highlighted by pinch-hit homers from Ian Happ and Tony Kemp. It also marked the end of an era, with WGN-TV broadcasting its final Cubs home game -- the Marquee Sports Network will broadcast all Cubs games in 2020 and beyond. WGN's nationwide reach created a generation or two of Cubs fans around the country.

Sunday's game was a pitcher's duel in an unrelenting rain, with Yu Darvish piling up 12 strikeouts along the way for the Cubs. It, too, marked the end of an era, as it was Wrigley Field organist Gary Pressy's final regular season game (yes, we're hoping for a miracle). His last two songs, played to a few hundred Wrigley faithful after the game?  "My Way" and, of course, an encore of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." Thanks for 33 fun years, Gary.

Many speculate that Sunday's game might also have been the final regular season home game for several other notable Cubs, including Ben Zobrist, Kris Bryant, and Joe Maddon. Time will tell. In any case, all three have been huge parts of the best stretch of Cubs baseball in more than a century.

The Cubs wrap up the 2019 regular season with a six-game road trip that kicks off in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. 156 games down, 6 to go.

GO CUBS GO!



 RFBleachers & SonicElwood




 Gary Pressy leading the stretch on Sunday

Zobrist thanking fans after Sunday's game

Photo Credits:  RFBleachers

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