NATIONAL LEAGUE WILD-CARD GAME
Rockies 2, Cubs 1 (13)
The Colorado Rockies defeated the Chicago Cubs in the National League wild-card game Tuesday at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Tony Wolters’ RBI single in the top of the 13th inning. The Rockies advance to play the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL division series, which begins Thursday. The game-winning hit by Wolters (above) was his first hit since Sept. 10. Colorado starting pitcher Kyle Freeland (right) allowed no runs over 62/3 innings, allowing 4 hits with 1 walk and 6 strikeouts.
ROCKIES 2, CUBS 1 (13)
CHICAGO — For the Colorado Rockies, 13 was a lucky number.
Pinch hitter Tony Wolters, who hit .170 during the regular season, delivered the game-winning hit in the top of the 13th inning to drive in Trevor Story as the Rockies beat the Cubs in the NL wild-card game 2-1 in 13 innings Tuesday night in Wrigley Field.
The Rockies advance to face the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League division series beginning Thursday in Milwaukee.
Wolters’ hit was his first since Sept. 10. He had gone 0 for 15 since.
Kyle Hendricks, the Cubs’ eighth pitcher on the night, retired the first two batters of the 13th before Story singled. Gerardo Parra followed with another single to right field, putting runners on first and third for Wolters, who hit a grounder off the mound and into center field.
In the bottom of the inning, Scott Oberg struck out the side swinging.
Javier Baez hit a tying double for the Cubs off reliever Adam Ottavino with two outs in the eighth inning. As midnight approached in Chicago, it was the longest postseason game by innings and time in Wrigley Field history.
Colorado left-hander Kyle Freeland pitched four-hit ball over 62/3 scoreless innings on short rest in his playoff debut. Nolan Arenado had a sacrifice fly in the first against Jon Lester, who gave up four hits in six innings.
Cole Hamels, normally a starter, threw two shutout innings of relief for Chicago. Hendricks, also a starter, got the final two outs in the top of the 12th before heading back out in the 13th.
Baez walked leading off the 11th against Seunghwan Oh and moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Albert Almora. Daniel Murphy was intentionally walked, and Baez got tagged out by Arenado on Willson Contreras’ grounder to third.
As Arenado applied the tag in the middle of the basepath between second and third, Baez wrapped his arms around him. Arenado smiled and patted him rather than try a throw to first. Chris Rusin then retired pinch-hitter Victor Caratini on a grounder to first to end the inning.