(AUDACY) Speaking literally, Game 7 of the 2016 World Series was the game that won it all for the Chicago Cubs.
But what was the moment that really catapulted them to the World Series? What moment made the Cubs believe they would win it all? That's what 670 The Score host Matt Spiegel wanted to know from former Cubs manager Joe Maddon on the latest episode of the Audacy and MLB podcast "The Run -- 2016 Chicago Cubs." Spiegel's suggestions included Addison Russell's big home runs in a pair of road games in the National League Championship Series and Kris Bryant's home run to tie the game against Cleveland in Game 5 of the World Series ... but neither moment was what Maddon ultimately chose.
"Well I'll tell you, the biggest moment — and you're right, and even (Ben) Zobrist's bunt is another one that got the whole thing rolling — (was) Game 4 against the Giants," Maddon said, referencing the NL Division Series that the Cubs won in four games. "I can't believe people don't recognize it more strongly. That was the game.
"That's the game that won the World Series for the Cubs ... If you want to dissect the game that catapulted the 2016 team to the World Series championship, it was that game."
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Leading 2-1 in the NLDS, the Cubs trailed 5-2 against the Giants entering the ninth inning of Game 4. After they cut their deficit to 5-3 and had runners at second and third base, Maddon authored a double pinch-hit sequence in which Russell was replaced by Chris Coghlan, who was subsequently replaced by Willson Contreras after the Giants made a pitching change. Contreras then hit a two-run single up the middle to tie the game, and Javier Baez later delivered the go-ahead RBI single to complete the four-run inning, giving the Cubs a lead and the eventual series win.
Tune into the rest of the podcast — embedded above or available on Audacy here — to hear Maddon reflect on impact players throughout the postseason run, his fond memories of being in Chicago and much more.
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