Wrigley Field has seen its fair share of late-inning magic, but few moments in the 2026 season have matched the electricity of Monday night. Michael Conforto stepped to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning with the game on the line and delivered a moment that will be remembered in Chicago for years to come. His pinch-hit solo home run capped a stunning two-run rally, lifting the Chicago Cubs to a 5-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds and extending their winning streak to six games.
Michael Conforto Delivers in the Clutch
With the Cubs trailing 4-3 entering the final frame, the atmosphere at the Friendly Confines was tense. The rally began when Pete Crow-Armstrong led off the inning with a triple that narrowly escaped the glove of Reds center fielder Dane Myers. The ball popped out of Myers' mitt as he collided with the wall, putting the tying run just 90 feet away.
After a strikeout, Nico Hoerner stepped up and executed perfectly, lifting a sacrifice fly to left field that allowed Crow-Armstrong to slide home safely, tying the game at 4-4. That set the stage for Michael Conforto, who was called upon to pinch-hit for Matt Shaw. Facing Reds reliever Emilio Pagán, Conforto worked the count to 3-2 before launching a towering drive to center field. The ball cleared the ivy, sending the crowd into a frenzy and securing the Cubs' 12th consecutive victory at home.
The Power of Seiya Suzuki
While Conforto provided the finishing touch, the Cubs wouldn't have been in a position to win without the early-game heroics of Seiya Suzuki. The Reds jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, but Suzuki silenced the Cincinnati dugout in the fourth inning. Following hits by Alex Bregman and Ian Happ, Suzuki connected on a massive 455-foot home run off Reds starter Chase Petty.
The blast, which was Chicago’s longest home run of the 2026 season so far, leveled the score at 3-3 and shifted the momentum back to the home side. Suzuki continues to be a driving force for the NL Central leaders, who have now won 16 of their last 19 games to improve to a 23-12 record.
Pitching Matchup and Weather Delays
The game was delayed at the start for 1 hour and 40 minutes due to a thunderstorm, but the wait didn't dampen the intensity on the field. Cubs right-hander Edward Cabrera took the mound and battled through six innings, allowing three runs on nine hits. Cabrera surrendered a solo shot to JJ Bleday in the third and a two-run homer to Ke’Bryan Hayes in the fourth before settling down to keep the Cubs within striking distance.
On the other side, Chase Petty made his first major league start of the season for the Reds. Recalled from Triple-A Louisville earlier in the day, Petty showed flashes of brilliance but was ultimately undone by Suzuki’s three-run blast. He finished his outing with 5 2/3 innings pitched, allowing three runs on four hits.
Standings and What's Next
The loss was a bitter pill for the Reds, who had reclaimed the lead in the eighth inning thanks to an RBI single from Spencer Steer. The defeat marked Cincinnati’s fourth straight loss, a slide they will look to snap as the series continues. Emilio Pagán (2-1) took the loss, while Ryan Rolison (2-0) earned the win after tossing a scoreless ninth for Chicago.
The Cubs’ home dominance is reaching historic proportions. Their 12-game winning streak at Wrigley Field is the franchise's best since a 14-game run in 2008. As the divisional race heats up, the Cubs appear to be the team to beat in the National League Central.
The two teams will return to action on Tuesday night. The Cubs will send right-hander Jameson Taillon (2-1, 4.41 ERA) to the mound, while the Reds will counter with left-hander Andrew Abbott (1-2, 5.97 ERA) as they attempt to even the series.
Sources & Original Reporting
