Polanco’s pratfall leads to Cubs’ fifth consecutive victory

The Chicago Cubs are enjoying a charmed week, or maybe they’re just taking advantage of opponents’ mistakes and doing what it takes to win. 

Regardless, they have won five straight, including three times in the final at-bat. Chicago has won on a walk-off walk, a passed ball and an outfielder losing his footing this week.

That latest unlikely ending came Friday afternoon in the 12th inning when Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco slipped and fell in shallow right field at Wrigley allowing Matt Szczur’s flyball to drop for the game-winning hit in a 11-10 victory. 

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Pittsburgh rallied to score five runs combined in the eighth and ninth innings and forced the game to extra innings. 

The Cubs had a chance to win the 10th that foreshadowed the eventual game-winning play. With Starlin Castro on third and Miguel Montero on first with one out, Szczur came to the plate and hit a shallow ball to rightfield where Polanco made the catch. He fired home to easily cut down Castro, who had tagged despite the shallow fly. 

Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle had visited the mount just before the play unfolded and shifted to a five-player infield. The move worked perfectly for the Pirates and frustrated the Cubs. 

But Chicago worked itself into a similar situation in the 12th with Castro on third, Jorge Soler on second and Montero on first with Szczur at the plate. Hurdle once again visited the mound to talk to reliever Radhames Liz. He shifted to five infielders again and Szczur gave Polanco another chance to be the hero. His spikes didn’t cooperate and it resulted in an addition to the  Pittsburgh blooper reel and another celebration for the young Cubs. 

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[Kyle Ringo is a contributing writer to Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @KyleRingo