“That was a great game”, said Royals manager Ned Yost.
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Amtrak was an affordable and easy option for many fans, which meant most runs were almost sold out.
Fernando Rodney (2-0) pitched a scoreless top of the 11th to get the victory.
Ventura was pulled for pinch hitter Kendrys Morales in the eighth.
Ventura allowed two hits in seven scoreless innings. The Cubs are 21-8in their last 29 home games and are 37-18 in their last 55 overall while going 37-18 in their last 55 games on grass.
Kansas City had runners in scoring position against Hendricks – in the first and fourth innings – but couldn’t generate any runs. Chicago, which will be one of the National League’s two wild-card teams, plays its final regular-season home contest versus the American League Central champion Royals in the makeup of a rainout May 30.
Luke Hochevar stepped into the fray for the Royals in the bottom of the ninth and started things off by finessing a cutter past rookie Kyle Schwarber.
“It was definitely a tough night”, said center fielder Lorenzo Cain, who went 1-for-4.
The Cubs haven’t won a playoff game since the 2003 NL Championship, having been swept in 2007 and 2008 in the NL Division Series. Kevin Jepsen worked the ninth for his 14th save.With two out in the bottom of the 10, Quintin Berry replaced Starlin Castro as a pinch-runner at first base, but Berry didn’t attempt to steal as Miguel Montero struck out. The veteran felt like one of the kids Monday night. Zobrist chopped a grounder to third baseman Kris Bryant for the second out of the inning.
For those keeping track at home, Herrera, Hochevar, and Madson each pitched an inning at this point.
Chris Denorfia and the Cubs once again displayed a flair for the dramatic on Monday.
Hendricks, meanwhile, allowed just two hits and walked two and matched a season high with nine strikeouts.
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According to Christopher Kamka of CSN Chicago, Denorfia became the first Cubs player to hit a walk-off home run to break a scoreless tie in extra innings since 1971, when Joe Pepitone hit a home run off of Mudcat Grant (both of which are real names, we assure you). The Royals fought off sinkers, breaking balls, and change-ups all night with little success. Houston moved just 1 1/2 games behind the Rangers in the AL West with the win.
