Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (8/6/26): Cubs 3, Blue Jays 2 F/11 – Bregman Heroics Lead to Extras W
The Cubs and Blue Jays got together at Wrigley Field Thursday afternoon to make up for a June rainout. The home team did absolutely nothing on offense until the final out, when a dramatic home run tied the score and set the stage for an extra-innings victory.
Toronto took the lead on a mental lapse by Chicago starter David Peterson in the top of the 1st inning. With runners on first and third and two outs, the left-hander made a third unsuccessful pickoff attempt in a single at-bat to earn a balk that forced in a run.
Dylan Cease was lights-out on Thursday, holding the North Siders to just a single and a walk in seven shutout frames. The Jays had scoring chances throughout the afternoon but only added one insurance run on an RBI single off the bat of Alejandro Kirk against Aaron Civale that made it 2-0 in the top of the 7th.
The Cubs began the bottom of the 9th against Toronto closer Louis Varland with a single by Pete Crow-Armstrong, who eventually moved to second base with two outs. Alex Bregman represented the final hope, and after quickly falling behind in the count, he hit a screaming line drive down the left field line into the basket for a game-tying two-run homer.
The game went into extra innings, where Blue Jays second baseman Ernie Clement made an incredible diving catch to rob Carson Kelly of the winning hit in the bottom of the 10th. Chicago finally won in the 11th when catcher Brandon Valenzuela threw the ball into the outfield when PCA stole third base, allowing him to score the winning run in the 3-2 triumph. (Box score)
Key Moment
Crow-Armstrong applies tremendous pressure to the defense when he is on the bases, and it gave his team a win with the error in this one.
Why the Cubs Won
They stranded 13 Toronto runners on base to stay in the game long enough for one big swing to even the score in the 9th inning.
Stats That Matter
- Peterson somehow only allowed one run despite having 10 runners reach against him: 5 IP, 1 R, 7 H, 3 K, and 3 BB.
- Bregman also had a single and a great catch on a line drive to third in the top of the 10th.
- PCA singled to open up the 11th, but Kelly got thrown out trying to score the winning run.
Bottom Line
The Cubs had absolutely no business winning that game, and it feels like a nice bonus on top of sweeping the Dodgers. A moment like Bregman had at the end could be a major confidence booster for him going forward.
On Deck
Chicago heads out on the road for a series against the Royals starting Friday night at 7:10pm CT. Kevin Gausman makes his debut for the Cubs in a game available on Marquee with a radio feed on The Score.
