On this day in Cubs history: David Bote’s ultimate grand slam
It will go down in one of the most triumphant moments in Cubs history.
David Bote had already enjoyed a Hollywood-esque run with the Cubs in 2018 as an 18th-round draft pick out of Neosho County Community College who played a key role for a team trying to make the playoffs.
Bote ended up playing 74 games in 2018, posting a 1.8 WAR. Kris Bryant missed 60 games that year due to injury and Bote stepped in with a quality performance, slashing .329/.418/.539 (.957 OPS) through Aug. 12.
And it all came together on Aug. 12 with a surreal moment.
During a nationally televised game on Sunday Night Baseball, the Cubs struggled to get anything going against Nationals starter Max Scherzer.
Scherzer struck out 11 in 7 shutout innings and the Cubs managed only 3 hits. It was a tense 1-0 game until Ryan Zimmerman smacked a 2-run single in the top of the 9th.
In the bottom of the 9th, the Cubs put together a rally against Washington reliever Ryan Madson.
Trailing 3-0, Ben Zobrist led off with a groundout. Jason Heyward singled, Albert Almora Jr. was hit with a pitch and then Kyle Schwarber popped out.
After Willson Contreras was hit by a pitch, Bote stepped in as a pinch-hitter for pitcher Justin Wilson.
Bote fouled off a 95 mph fastball, then took a ball, stared at a strike and evened the count at 2-2.
He then connected on a drive to center field and the epic celebration was on – a walk-off, two-out, pinch-hit grand slam.
Check out the full highlights of Bote’s ultimate grand slam on the Marquee Sports Network app.