MLB Rankings: Greatest Hits in Week-8
Daniel Descalso | May 20 | 51%
Like Telez, Daniel Descalso’s hit came in what was eventually a losing cause. But that shouldn’t de-value the importance of his triple, which provided the Chicago Cubs with a lead that they should have held onto.
The NL Central Cubs and NL East leading Philadelphia Phillies were opening a four-game series they would eventually split at Wrigley Field. Behind starter Jake Arrieta and reliever Seranthony Dominguez, the Phillies led 3-1 when Dominguez lost his radar starting the eighth.
He walked Victor Caratini and Jason Heyward on a combined 10 pitches, bringing Descalso to the plate with the tying runners in scoring position following a sacrifice bunt.
The next hitter, Descalso, took a fastball low and then got another just a bit higher. He drove it into the left center field gap, sending the tying runners across easily and deep enough to allow Descalso to set off for third base. He made it, and when Jean Segura threw wildly in an attempt to retired him Descalso picked himself up and raced home with the go-ahead score.
From only 34 percent probability of winning when Descalso came up, the Cubs suddenly enjoyed an 85 percent chance, nursing their one-run lead with one inning to play at home.
It didn’t work out. In the top of the ninth, Segura made up for his error with a two-out RBI, game-tying single. One inning later, J.T. Realmuto homered to provide the visitors with the eventual winning run.