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  6. article_body => "<p>The Cubs encountered a ton of adversity in the 2016 postseason, overcoming a 2-1 deficit in the NLCS and a 3-1 deficit in the World Series en route to winning a title. With that in mind, it was semi-surprising to hear which game former manager Joe Maddon believes was the linchpin to that title run.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking on WSCR's \"Inside the Clubhouse\"&nbsp;on Saturday, Maddon said the win against the Giants in Game 4 of the NLDS doesn\u2019t get enough credit for its importance to the 2016 championship.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s the game to me that probably won the World Series for us. I mean that sincerely, from the bottom of my heart,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/670thescore.radio.com\/media\/audio-channel\/levine-spiegel-tom-hamilton-joe-maddon-interviews-hour-2\" target=\"_blank\">Maddon told Bruce Levine and Matt Spiegel<\/a>. \u201cJohnny Cueto was no fun, and he was [gonna] be no fun one more time, I\u2019m telling you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/cubs\/cubs-would-welcome-2020-season-full-experiments-asterisks\" target=\"_blank\">RELATED: Cubs would welcome 2020 season full of experiments, asterisks<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Cueto threw 7 2\/3 shutout innings in Game 1 of the series before surrendering a solo blast to Javier B\u00e1ez. The Cubs hung on for a 1-0 win, but Cueto was set to pitch Game 5 at Wrigley Field.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>It looked like the Cubs were going to have to beat Cueto again, as Giants hurler Matt Moore stymied them through eight innings in Game 4. Maddon\u2019s squad trailed 5-2 in the top of the ninth inning before rallying for four runs.&nbsp;Aroldis Chapman slammed the door on San Francisco in the bottom half to clinch the series.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI really was concerned in that game earlier in the game, based on how that was playing out,\u201d Maddon said. \u201cThat was the linchpin to the whole World Series for me, was that game in San Francisco.\u201d<\/p>\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/194b557a-5b1a-41fa-9e3c-3a7b33a4c831\/episodes\/41cdf392-f0d1-4e5e-a251-d499c7154563\/embed\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe> \n<em><a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/2PxAcKd\">Click here<\/a> to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of the Chicago <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/cubs\">Cubs<\/a> easily on your device.<\/em> \n"
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The Cubs encountered a ton of adversity in the 2016 postseason, overcoming a 2-1 deficit in the NLCS and a 3-1 deficit in the World Series en route to winning a title. With that in mind, it was semi-surprising to hear which game former manager Joe Maddon believes was the linchpin to that title run.

Speaking on WSCR's "Inside the Clubhouse" on Saturday, Maddon said the win against the Giants in Game 4 of the NLDS doesn’t get enough credit for its importance to the 2016 championship.

“That’s the game to me that probably won the World Series for us. I mean that sincerely, from the bottom of my heart,” Maddon told Bruce Levine and Matt Spiegel. “Johnny Cueto was no fun, and he was [gonna] be no fun one more time, I’m telling you.”

RELATED: Cubs would welcome 2020 season full of experiments, asterisks

Cueto threw 7 2/3 shutout innings in Game 1 of the series before surrendering a solo blast to Javier Báez. The Cubs hung on for a 1-0 win, but Cueto was set to pitch Game 5 at Wrigley Field. 

It looked like the Cubs were going to have to beat Cueto again, as Giants hurler Matt Moore stymied them through eight innings in Game 4. Maddon’s squad trailed 5-2 in the top of the ninth inning before rallying for four runs. Aroldis Chapman slammed the door on San Francisco in the bottom half to clinch the series.

 

“I really was concerned in that game earlier in the game, based on how that was playing out,” Maddon said. “That was the linchpin to the whole World Series for me, was that game in San Francisco.”

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