You wouldn't know if from the score, but a lot happened in the Cubs' 1-0 win against the Royals on Monday, which ended when Chris Denorfia hit a pinch-hit, walkoff home run in the 11th inning.
In fact, it was the first pinch-hit, walkoff home run in an extra-innings game that ended 1-0 in MLB history. That's a mouthful, but the excitement didn't stop there in a game that produced just one run.
Royals starting pitcher Yordano Ventura carried a perfect game into the sixth inning until Jorge Soler hit a leadoff single to center field. Ventura ended up tossing seven scoreless innings with six strikeouts.
Ventura's counterpart, Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks, pitched six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts, and both bullpens held up to send the game into extra innings deadlocked at zero. Neither team was able to get anything going in the 10th inning, but Denorfia ended the drama with one swing in the bottom of the 11th.
Cubs rookie Kris Bryant also became the first player of the season to field four different positions defensively in the same game. He started at first base, moved to center field, then to left field, and finally finished the game at his natural position — third base.
The win moved the Cubs 3 1/2 games back of the Pirates for the top wild-card spot with just six games to play.
Star Performers:
AL:
George Springer, Evan Gattis and Chris Carter all hit solo home runs to lead the Astros to a 3-2 win over the Mariners. Houston moved just 1 1/2 games behind the Rangers in the AL West with the win.
David Murphy hit a pinch-hit, walkoff single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning to help the Angels beat the Athletics 5-4. The win was Los Angeles' sixth straight and moved them just a half-game behind the Astros for the final wild-card spot and two games behind the Rangers for the AL West crown.
NL:
Cardinals outfielder Jon Jay hit an RBI single, then Mark Reynolds hit a pinch-hit, two-run home run in the ninth inning to give St. Louis a 3-0 win against the Pirates.
Max Scherzer took a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the Reds, but lost it when Tucker Barnhart singled with one out. Scherzer lasted eight innings and allowed just one run on two hits. He also recorded 10 strikeouts in a 5-1 win.
Plays of the Day:
Chris Denorfia's walkoff against the Royals:
Manny Machado can do things normal people can't:
Kevin Pillar makes his nightly great catch:
Carlos Correa makes improbable plays look routine:
A Look Ahead: (All times Eastern)
Cardinals (99-58) at Pirates (95-62), 7:05 p.m.: Lance Lynn led the Cardinals to a 3-0 win against Pittsburgh on Monday to take a four-game lead in the NL Central with just six games left in the regular season. It won't get any easier for the Pirates in this one, as St. Louis will send Michael Wacha (17-6, 3.15 ERA) to the mound.
Dodgers (87-69) at Giants (82-74), 10:15 p.m.: The Dodgers squandered another chance to clinch the NL West when Alejandro De Aza gave the Giants a 3-2 win with a walkoff sac-fly in the 12th inning Monday. Los Angeles' magic number remains at two, and it will get another opportunity to clinch Tuesday. Did we mention it's Clayton Kershaw (15-7 2.25 ERA) vs. Madison Bumgarner (18-8, 2.88 ERA)? It should be another interesting game.