- [Miguel] There's a lot of things behind
the scenes that players go through. Fans don't realize that the
players suffer too. I had two herniated discs,
had to get an epidural on Friday actually before the game. I couldn't even walk but when I stepped on
the box, I didn't feel anything. It was unforgettable. - [Announcer] With nobody out in the 8th
inning, bases loaded, Joe Maddon wants to bring
in Aroldis Chapman. - They had really good momentum going and
that's what you're afraid of. - Ballgame on the line,
the Cub lead is 3-1. - Because something bad's coming down. - Here comes the 1-2. Swing and a miss, strike 3. Out number one. - I guess your best pitcher,
the best closer in the game. - Swing and a miss, strike three. Out number two. - And they tied the ball game. - That's in the center field, a base hit! One run scores. Fowler
can't make the play, this game is tied. - You know they're feeling sexy about
theirself right now and they're probably gonna come back and beat us. - We go to the bottom of the 8th inning. The Cubs will have Zobrist and Russell and
Heyward due up. - Whether we were up big,
whether we were down big that season, we always went up there to compete and
that's the way I feel like we were able to respond so quickly. - Zobrist for the 1-1 count. Tie game. That's into the gap in right centerfield
and here come the Cubs. Zobrist with a leadoff double. - You see that happen at your home field,
you get some momentum back right away. - Come on, let's go. - Addison Russell at the plate. The Dodger defense anticipating a bunt. - Back in the days, for sure he was
bunting but [inaudible] a little bit. - They're going to probably throw more
sliders and have him try to roll a ground ball. Ground ball to third,
it's gloved by Turner, holding the runner at second and throwing
out Russell. - Got it out front, hold the run at
second, one out. I mean, we gotta score. - Dave Roberts to the mound,
let's talk strategy. - Dave Roberts is looking at it, you know,
I had a triple earlier in the game off of a righty. - They're going to walk him. - Yeah, they're going to walk Heyward. - But also, I feel like he might have been
looking at my late in the game numbers with runners in scoring position saying,
"I don't want to take a chance here." - Now this surprises me. - If I put Heyward on,
we got a chance to turn a double play, we get a force out,
at least and take some pressure off. - There's no doubt that a part of the
conversation is where Chapman is. - And also, Dave is probably thinking
ahead thinking if we do go in after this one, then they feel like
they got a good chance at knocking Chapman out of the game. So there's just a lot of things happening. - Two on, one out, a double, a ground out,
the intentional walk. But by putting Heyward on,
you now have to pitch to Baez. - You know Javy is going to see sliders
from Blanton. - [Javier] You know, if I get into it,
like, with the crowd, I get too jumpy to the ball. - Pop up, right side. Could stay
in play, it will. A big second out. - Just missed it. That was my pitch and I missed it because
I thought it was going to cut more and I kind of dropped my hands
and just got under it. - It will be Coghlan to face the
right-hander Blanton. On deck is Aroldis Chapman, by the way. - I think that was probably the most
important moment in that series. The Dodgers want Chapman out of the game. How are they going to do that? - This is interesting because if you
pitch around Coghlan, you're going to get Chapman
out of the game. They are going to walk him. And Dave Roberts is going to force the
hand here of Joe Maddon. - At that point exactly,
that's when Joe tells me, like, "You're going to go on deck,
because they're going to walk Coghlan, two load the bases, so you're going to go
out there, and pinch hit for Chapman. And then Martinez is going to bring the
lefty for you. Then I'm going to burn you,
I'm going to take you out and I'm going to bring Contreras because I want
Contreras to be hitting against this guy." That sounds like a plan. - Montero has come into the on-deck
circle. - Once he is announced then Dave Roberts
has a decision to make, whether to stay with Blanton or bring in
the lefty, which would prompt a counter move by Joe Maddon. - So, they walk the guy. Now I walk in, they announce me,
I look to the bench, thinking like, "Am I hitting? Am I not?"
What's going on here? - Let's see if Dave Roberts goes
for the lefty. - I don't see they bring in the lefty,
I'm like, "Joe, do you still want me to hit or what do you want
me to do here now?" And he goes, "No, no, go hit." I'm like, "All right."
I went to hit. - [Heyward] A lot of fans may not know,
Miguel Montero had just been given an epidural two days before this. He really wasn't even supposed to be in
the game and I think Dave Roberts called Joe's bluff right there. - I was in the hot tub until
the 5th inning. I had everybody working on me prior to
that AB, like the trainers and all that. Didn't feel great but I'm like,
I'll be able to battle a little bit only in an emergency case. Only extremely emergency case. That would be the only
situation I can come in. And wow, I got out a little bit quicker
than what I thought. - For Montero, even though it's the
matchup you want, righty against lefty, he has not fared well this year. - I didn't have a good year and at this
point, honestly, I'm a really bad pinch hitter. On the other hand Joe Blanton had a really
good success against me. I never thought he was that nasty but he
always got me out. He had my numbers for sure. So, it was a good move by the manager but
I hate the fact that they walked a guy and it really bothered me that Joe really
don't want me to hit. So I'm like, "I gotta prove to all of you
guys, you guys are wrong." You don't load the bases to
face Miggy though. - Game on the line, bases loaded,
two outs. Miguel Montero.
He could be a hero tonight in game one. - I know this guy is going to throw me off
pitch so I'm like [inaudible] a little bit up and just whack it. - And a pitch to Montero,
checks went foul back. - Swinging the bat, it hurt, yes. A lot. And I just tried to trick myself mentally,
"The pain will go away and this situation is always going to stay forever." - Strike two. That's one Montero would
like to have back. - It was supposed to break middle in but
he backed off. So he went the other way. I'm like, "Oh my God that was the pitch to
hit and I missed it." Blanton was like, "Man,
I got away with that pitch." So I'm thinking, "I got two strikes,
just choke up a little bit and make something happen." - Here comes the 0-2. - When I hit it, I was like, "It is way,
way gone." I'm like, "Take that." - I knew that was it. I knew that was a grand slam. - Montero drives one in the air. Deep right field. It's gotta chance! - As soon as he made contact,
everybody got up in the dugout. - I'm the man here. I gotta get this done. - Grand slam, Montero!
Game one hero! - I thought about doing the
Kirk Gibson thing. - It gives me chills just watching it. These two managers were playing some great
chess moves and Miggy came out on top of this one. - That was one of the biggest moments that
brought Miggy into the love of the fans. It meant a lot to me. That homer is going to stick here
forever, right? Does anyone remember the homer after that? We were celebrating and all of a sudden we
see Dexter running the bases. We were like, "What just happened?" He hit a homer. We were like, "Okay, great." That's too bad for him. It was a back to back. βͺ [music] βͺ
"Does anyone remember the homer after that?"
Oh that brings back great memories. That was a magical season.
I was there that night. I have never heard Wrigley field louder than in that moment right there.
And Miggy is right, most fans in my section missed the Fowler home run.. we were confused when we saw Fowler rounding second, and then lost our minds again when we realized what happened.
These videos are awesome, the production quality is top notch
Pat & Coomdog's call of this a classic and simply one of the best calls of all cubs time.
"Wrigley Field is shaking right now"
What a moment. got to love Miggy. such a competitor.
I was so distraught after we gave up the lead in that game and then this happened and then Fowler followed it up. October 2016 was definitely the most stressful and fun month ever
I know he didn't necessarily end on the best note, but Miggy owns the 2 biggest hits in the history of this franchise. That Grand Slam and the ultimate deciding run of G7. The dude should be heralded as a hero until the end of time in Chicago.
Miggy gets clutch hits. Say it loud and say it proud.
Back when we actually drove in runs