Ian Happ's game-tying solo home run (5)
Dive into the Chicago Cubs' electrifying 2025 season with ESPN's Jesse Rogers on Big League Buzz! From Kyle Tucker's superstar impact to Craig Counsell's game-changing strategies, we unpack why the Cubs are poised to dominate the NL Central. Will they go all-in at the trade deadline for Zach Gallen or Merrill Kelly? Can Pete Crow-Armstrong become a top-tier hitter? Plus, get the inside scoop on the Cubs' playoff potential and long-term plans. Don't miss this deep dive into Chicago's hottest MLB storylines! Subscribe, like, and comment—are you a believer in the Cubs' 2025 run?
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New York Times
7 hours ago
- New York Times
Justin Turner earns his big Cubs moment as the team leader delivers a walk-off homer
CHICAGO — As Justin Turner approached and rounded third base, Quentin Berry gestured with his hands as if he were stroking his nonexistent beard. Despite still having a shock of red hair on his face, Turner called it the 'old gray-beard sign,' poking fun at the veteran's advanced-for-baseball age. Turner's walk-off home run was typical of what he's done this season. No, it hasn't been one of the best offensive seasons for the 40-year-old veteran. But what he's done this summer is pick up everyone around him whenever they need it. On this day, he did so on the field by saving Daniel Palencia, who thanked the veteran after he touched home plate with a big bear hug amid a Sunday celebration in the Chicago Cubs' much-needed 5-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. Advertisement Not long before, Palencia had lost the team's one-run lead, a rare blown save for the dominant closer. But after Dansby Swanson reached to start the ninth on an error, Turner stepped in to pinch hit for Michael Busch and drove the first pitch he saw into the left-center bleachers to send the fans home happy. 'He's been so good for us all year long,' Turner said of Palencia. 'I'll take the ball in his hands in the ninth inning with a lead any day of the week. Happy to be able to pick him up. He's going to be big for us down the stretch. Hopefully, he keeps going out there and attacking.' Unless this suddenly becomes a trend, Palencia isn't an issue for the Cubs. Their high-leverage relievers might not have had the best weekend, but they've largely been brilliant all season long. For Turner, taking the spotlight off others, like he made sure to do for Palencia on this day, is a rare occurrence for him this summer. He's been adjusting to a new part-time role for much of the year. But in doing so, he's gracefully accepted a behind-the-scenes job of team leader and quietly helped others stand out. That he's been so excellent in that space could be seen by the exuberance with which his teammates celebrated after his game-winning homer. As the ball landed in the bleachers, the entire team poured out of the dugout and surrounded home plate, awaiting a team favorite to make sure he felt the love. 'Justin's just so engaged in the game despite limited opportunities,' manager Craig Counsell said. 'He's so engaged in other people's success. So when that player has success, it just means a little bit more. That's probably what you saw.' right on time, @redturn2. 😌 — Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 3, 2025 Turner's overall numbers aren't pretty. He was brought to Chicago to be a bench bat and hit lefties. In those situations when he's facing a southpaw, like he did Sunday, he's often come through. Turner was told by Counsell that at-bats would be limited for him. But after initially balking at the idea, he embraced it and came to Chicago with hopes of winning a championship. Advertisement 'What a true pro that guy is,' Swanson said. 'For a guy that has handled everything this year so gracefully, been a part of this team and in so many ways other than just on the field, it's so cool to celebrate a moment like that with him.' Turner is on pace to have 216 plate appearances this season. That would be his fewest since 2013 when he was a part-time player with the New York Mets. It's been over a decade of regular playing time for Turner. Over that time, he established himself as one of the more feared and consistent bats in the game. So adjusting to a bench role has to be tough, right? 'It's tough for everyone in those roles around the league,' Turner said. 'That's no excuse. You gotta put your work in every day and be prepared. When they call your name, be ready to go.' Making excuses doesn't seem to be part of Turner's DNA. Some of the best in the game, like former Mets third baseman David Wright, and Adam Jones, the former Orioles great who was in Chicago and talking to players on the field before Sunday's game, mentored him in his early years. He's taken those lessons and is trying to pass them on to the next generation as his career winds down. 'So many guys had an impact on me and taken me under their wing and helped me become who I am today,' Turner said. 'That's what I want to do for the guys in here. Help them become as good as they can possibly be and go win championships.' Turner is there off the field to plan team dinners or group activities. He's on the team bus, making sure the group is having fun and feeling connected. At the ballpark, when he's not playing, he's in a teammate's ear, passing along words of wisdom, perhaps a quiet pat on the back or a supportive hand on the shoulder. 'I think it's fun to see the joy he has to be here every day,' Swanson said. 'He enjoys being a part of a Major League Baseball team. Being in this room is such a special thing, and he's never taken it for granted. One of the first people here, one of the last to leave. Just a baseball lifer.' Advertisement Swanson mentioned all the big hits he remembered Turner getting against him earlier in his career. This one, Swanson said, felt good to be on the right side of. But surprisingly enough, Turner had never hit a walk-off home run in his career. Not in the regular season at least. Cubs fans will surely remember the one other time it occurred. With the Los Angeles Dodgers up 1-0 in the NLCS and Game 2 knotted at two apiece, Turner stepped to the plate in the ninth with two down and two on and launched a game-winning three-run shot off John Lackey to give the Dodgers a huge victory. This time, his big hit came in favor of the Cubs. 'It was nice to have the Cubs fans cheer for me,' Turner said. 'It was pretty special to do it here in front of these fans. They've been so great all year. They show up and support us. They're loud, and we feel their energy. That's a special one that I'll never forget.'
Chicago Tribune
8 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Column: Justin Turner's walk-off home run seals the Chicago Cubs' 5-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles
Greg Maddux Tarp Sliding Bobblehead Day at Wrigley Field on Sunday began with Chicago Cubs fans chanting for a 100-year-old man as he threw out the ceremonial first pitch. And it ended with 40-year-old Justin Turner smoking a pinch-hit, two-run, walk-off home run into the left-field bleachers in the ninth inning, sending the Cubs to a 5-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles before a frenzied crowd of 39,430. Trailing the Milwaukee Brewers by two games in the National League Central, Sunday's dramatic win might just be the most important one of the Cubs' season, not only because of the way they did it, but because of the guy who got it done, and the emotion of a weekend filled with Ryne Sandberg tributes. 'Pretty surreal,' Turner said. 'You're running around the bases not really hearing anything, kind of blacked out. Then you hit third and (coach Quintin Berry) is giving me the old graybeard sign down there and I see all the teammates waiting for me at home plate. It's a really good feeling to help this team win a ballgame.' It was Turner's first regular-season walk-off home run in 1,736 career games, and his second walk-off home run ever. You might recall the first one, when he played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and hit one off Cubs pitcher John Lackey in Game 2 of the 2017 National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium. That loss was the beginning of the end of the dream of a Cubs dynasty. The celebration at home plate on Sunday looked familiar. It was the Cubs' sixth walk-off win, and first since July 3 against the Cleveland Guardians. But it might have been a little more touchy-feely than normal. Turner, who hasn't been able to consistently hit while mostly coming off the bench, needed a big moment like this to show fans why the Cubs signed a player well past his prime. Sometimes a player's value can't be measured by a stats sheet. 'What a true pro that guy is,' shortstop Dansby Swanson said. 'He's just handled everything this year so gracefully and been a part of this team in so many ways other than just being on the field. It's so cool to celebrate a moment like that with him. I'm glad I was on the good side of it, because I've played against him for a long time and felt like he's had big clutch hits against the team I've been on.' Photos: Chicago Cubs walk off the Baltimore Orioles at Wrigley FieldManager Craig Counsell said the reaction by Turner's teammates was a reflection of his status as the centrifugal force of the clubhouse. 'Justin is so engaged in the game despite limited opportunities,' Counsell said. 'He's so engaged in other people's success, and so when that player has success, it just means a little bit more. That's probably what you saw.' The Brewers were already ahead of the Washington Nationals 3-0 by the time the Cubs-Orioles game began, and looked like they planned on running the table the rest of the season after a 14-3 win. After a stirring ceremonial first pitch by 100-year-old Andy Anderson, who had fans in stitches by moving up off the mound and then moving back, the Cubs got a little luck in the first inning when right fielder Jeremiah Jackson muffed a routine fly off the bat of Michael Busch. Kyle Tucker, struggling since late June, then bunted Busch to third, which left everyone in the ballpark scratching their heads, even with the wind blowing in. After Seiya Suzki's RBI single gave the Cubs the lead, Ian Happ doubled to right with two outs to bring home the second run before Carson Kelly was easily thrown out trying to score from first, which left only half of the ballpark scratching their heads. The Orioles put up single runs in the third and fourth, then the Cubs staged a two-out rally off reliever Dietrich Enns in the sixth, with Swanson driving in the go-ahead run. With Counsell's bullpen moves working and closer Daniel Palencia throwing 102 mph fastballs, it seemed like a done deal. But with a runner on second and two outs in the ninth, Ryan Noda, hitting .088, lined an RBI single to right off Palencia to tie the game. It was the first earned run given up by Palencia in 13 appearances dating back to June 26, and his first blown save in his last 16 opportunities. Then Swanson's hustle on a grounder to third forced an errant throw to start the ninth, and Turner, pinch-hitting for Busch, belted a Keegan Akin fastball into the bleachers, ending Rynopalooza weekend with a bang. Despite a down season numbers-wise — .217 with three home runs and 15 RBI — Turner is hitting .316 as a pinch-hitter (6-for-19) with two home runs. He said he just wanted to have a chance to win, and 'it took some convincing from me to even come here because Craig was like 'We don't have a lot of at-bats for you, you're role is going to be on the bench.'' Turner joked it 'was nice to have the Cubs fans cheer for me for a change,' acknowledging his struggles to contribute. He said he's always ready off the bench, and the moment was 'a special one I'll never forget.' 'We talked before he signed, the opportunities might be limited, and he's never been in that position before,' Counsell said. 'Justin commits. That's why he's been a great player for a long time, and he's committed 100 percent to that role, helping the team win. Sometimes that means conversations, engagement on the bench, a pat on the back or some words.' Or sometimes even earning the Marquee 'Player of the Game' award for lunacy beyond the call of duty, doing whatever it takes to get some laughs from the boys, even if it's a viral 'NSFW' prank. 'I want to win a championship,' Turner said. 'So I wanted to come here bad, and I'm glad it worked out, and glad I got that chance today.'
CBS News
10 hours ago
- CBS News
Justin Turner hits a game-ending homer as the Chicago Cubs top the Baltimore Orioles 5-3
Justin Turner hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning to give the Chicago Cubs a 5-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday. Leading off the ninth, Dansby Swanson reached on a throwing error on third baseman Jordan Westburg. Manager Craig Counsell then sent Turner to the plate to hit for Michael Busch. Turner drove the first pitch he saw from Keegan Akin (3-1), a 92.8 mph fastball, deep to left-center for the game-ending shot. It was Turner's third homer of the season. Chicago took two of three in the weekend set against Baltimore. The Cubs stayed two games back of NL Central-leading Milwaukee, which won 14-3 at Washington. Colton Cowser had two hits for Baltimore, including an RBI single in the fourth. Gunnar Henderson had a run-scoring fielder's choice. The Orioles trailed 3-2 before Ryan Noda drove in Cowser with a pinch-hit single off Daniel Palencia (1-2) with two down in the ninth. Seiya Suzuki, Kyle Tucker and Nico Hoerner each had two hits for the Cubs. Drew Pomeranz, Andrew Kittredge and Brad Keller combined for 3 1/3 hitless innings out of the bullpen before Palencia faltered. Noda swiped second in the ninth before Jackson Holliday flied out to Swanson at shortstop, ending the threat. The Orioles' two errors led to three unearned runs. Michael Soroka (3-8, 4.87 ERA) makes his Cubs debut on Monday against the Cincinnati Reds. Soroka was acquired in a trade with Washington on Thursday. The Orioles continue their road trip at Philadelphia on Monday, with lefty Cade Povich (2-5, 5.15 ERA) slated to get the start.
