Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (6/5/19): Cubs 9, Rockies 8 – Huge Performance from Bote Fuels Win

Hey, did you hear that the Cubs signed Craig Kimbrel tonight?

Well, they did. And they also played an extremely anxiety-producing baseball game against the Rockies, which they won 9-8 behind a heroic effort by second baseman David Bote. His walk-off grand slam against the Nationals will always be known as “The Bote Game,” but tonight certainly is a contender for the “The Other Bote Game.”

Cubs relievers, especially Brad Brach but also Steve Cishek, did everything they could to squander Bote’s efforts. Cishek gave up a 9th inning run and raised our collective blood pressure far higher than would be preferred, but he and the Cubs were able to hold on by their fingernails and pull out a win.

While we all would’ve liked a little less stress along the way, a win is a win and the Cubs suddenly find themselves having won three in a row and a game up on the Brewers, who have lost two in a row to the not-so-good Marlins. After a rough week, things seem to be breaking the Cubs way again.

Key Moment

The aforementioned Bote had a heck of a game, adding to what has been a really strong sophomore season. Bote opened scoring with a two-out, three-run home run in the 5th inning. More on Bote later, but check out this shot!

BREAKING the scoreless tie.#EverybodyIn pic.twitter.com/UFjWceHg7V

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) June 6, 2019

Of course, the Rockies frustratingly tied it up within 15 minutes of that home run on the strength of some dinks, dunks, and bad defense. Bote didn’t get the go-ahead hit in a subsequent rally, but he did put an exclamation mark on it with a bases-clearing double.

Bote’s final RBI came in the bottom of the 8th and it’s a good thing, because the Cubs needed it.

Stats that Matter

• Back to Bote. He went on a bit of a slide last month but has rebounded in a big way. After tonight’s 4-for-4, 7-RBI performance, his OPS is sitting at .866.
• I’m going to say this quietly so I don’t jinx it and I’d appreciate it if you’d knock on wood for me: Yu Darvish appears to be turning it around. Following up on a six inning, one run performance in St. Louis this weekend, Darvish tossed a pretty solid 5.1 innings tonight before being losing it a bit and watching Kyle Ryan cough up his win.
• Brad Brach, woof. He got one out and gave up four runs to let the Rockies back into a game they were all but out of. The Cubs are going to have to ditch somebody when Craig Kimbrel is added to the roster and Brach isn’t doing himself any favors with outings like this one.

Bottom Line

Some fun things happened tonight. Darvish continued what has been an encouraging stretch, the offense scored a bunch of runs, and of course, the Cubs won. Did I miss anything?

Oh yeah! They also managed to sign a future Hall of Fame closer. Fun night, huh?

On Deck

José Quintana will be on the mound as the Cubs go for the sweep tomorrow at 1:20pm CT. Quintana will square off against the Rockies’ top pitching prospect, Peter Lambert, who is making his first major league start. You can watch the game on NBC Sports Chicago or join Pat and Ron on the radio on 670 The Score.