2019 top Cubs memories: A franchise record for grand slams

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With the year coming to a close, NBC Sports Chicago is looking back on the top moments from the 2019 Cubs season.

Insert LeBron James’ infamous “Not two, not three, not four, not five, not six, not seven…” quote here.

No, the Cubs didn’t hit seven grand slams in 2019. Rather, they tallied 10, breaking the franchise record set in 1929. Let’s review:

-May 4: With the Cubs trailing the Cardinals 5-1 in the fourth inning, St. Louis intentionally walked Kyle Schwarber to load the bases. With one out, third-string catcher Taylor Davis crushed a first pitch slam to knot the score at five.

The Cubs went on to win 6-5, with a Javier Báez eighth-inning home run being the difference. But Davis’ blast was the big story, as he had zero home runs in 24 career at-bats and 31 in nine career minor league seasons. To say it was unlikely is an understatement.

-May 5: On Sunday Night Baseball, Kris Bryant put the exclamation point on a three-game sweep of the Cardinals. Bryant hit a slam just to the right of dead center field, extending the Cubs’ lead to 13-2.

The Cubs won 13-5, extending their winning streak to seven games. It pulled them into first place in the NL Central, completing a last-to-first place turnaround following an abysmal 1-6 start to the season.

-May 22: The Cubs erased an early 3-0 Phillies’ lead via Anthony Rizzo’s three-run blast off the Budweiser sign in right field. Two innings later, Albert Almora Jr. smacked a fifth inning slam — the first of his career — pushing the Cubs ahead 7-3. They went on to win 8-4.

-June 19: After the White Sox took a 1-0 lead in the top half of the first, Willson Contreras lined a slam into the left field basket in the bottom half. Contreras added a solo homer two innings later, leading the Cubs to a 7-3 win.

Contreras tallied five RBIs against Lucas Giolito, who entered action having allowed six earned runs in his previous eight starts combined. It marked the second straight season Contreras hit a slam against the White Sox.

Furthermore, his two-homer performance came three years to the day of his first career big-league long ball.

-June 29: Reds ace Luis Castillo stifled the Cubs' offense for seven innings, allowing a run on three hits — one being a Jason Heyward solo homer. The Cubs went 0-for-7 against Castillo with runners in scoring position and took advantage when he left the game.

Báez delivered the big hit eluding the Cubs, pounding an opposite field slam in the eighth to put his team ahead 5-0. The Cubs won 6-0. 

-July 19: Early 3-0 Padres lead? No problem for Rizzo, who hit an opposite field slam in the third to push the Cubs ahead. San Diego fought back to tie the game at both four and five, though the Cubs ultimately prevailed 6-5.

-July 28: There are grand slams, and there are Grand. Slams.

Kyle Schwarber’s slam off Brewers starter Zach Davies was of the latter variety. The left fielder crushed a first-pitch fastball into the second deck of Miller Park, giving the Cubs a 4-0 lead in the second inning.

That wasn’t all for Schwarber, who added a three-run homer in the fourth. The Cubs won the game 11-4 behind his 3-for-3, seven RBI day.

-Aug. 7: The A’s and Cubs were gridlocked at one in the fourth inning, and then Ian Happ happened (no pun intended).

Happ, who spent nearly four months in Triple-A to start 2019, launched an opposite field slam to give the Cubs the lead. They added four runs an inning later, defeating Oakland 10-1.

-Sept. 5: Mic. Drop.

The Cubs and Brewers found themselves in a back-and-forth affair in Milwaukee, separated by four games in the standings. Granted, the Brewers were seemingly all but dead in the postseason race. But the Cubs needed every win possible to ensure Milwaukee stayed out of the picture. (Note: they more than stayed in the picture).

After letting a two-run lead slip away in the fifth inning, the Cubs took the lead for good in the sixth. Once again, Schwarber crushed a slam into deep right field at Miller Park, giving the Cubs a 9-4 lead. They won 10-5.

-Sept. 13: Things looked bleak for the Cubs this game, as the Pirates took a 4-0 lead before the home team stepped to the plate. Five homers later, and the Cubs raced out to a 10-4 lead after three innings.

The fifth blast came from Rizzo, who crushed a slam off the video board above the right field basket. When it was all said and done, the Cubs came out on top 17-8 in a three-hour, 52-minute affair.

Watch the video above to see all 10 grand slams.

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