Cubs' Dramatic 7-6 Comeback: Ian Happ's Hot Streak Leads the Charge!

The Leadoff Man

What a game! The Cubs made a thrilling comeback to beat the White Sox 7-6, with Ian Happ and Patrick Wisdom delivering when it mattered most. This win wasn't just about beating a crosstown rival—it may have re-ignited my hopes for the season. I’ve been angry with the Cubs. I had started to lose hope and had relegated Cubs games to the iPad on the side table with little to no sound. The Cubs fell behind the White Sox 5-0 in the 4th inning after a Christopher Morel error led to five runs. But games like this, where we show some backbone, make me think we're one step closer to getting back on the big TV!

Let’s break down the action, the rivalry, and what this means for our playoff dreams.

Big Clutch Hits: Ian Happ Is Making His Run!

Ian Happ’s timely hitting and Patrick Wisdom’s clutch homer sealed a dramatic Cubs victory.

The Cubs found themselves in a 5-0 hole after an error by Christopher Morel led to a five-run inning for the White Sox. Patrick Wisdom, often criticized for his lack of clutch hitting, came through with a pivotal homer, making even skeptics like myself nod in approval. But the real story here is Ian Happ. He went 3 for 4 with two doubles, delivering crucial hits off Sox pitchers Flexen and Leasure. Morel also added a two-run homer to narrow the gap to 5-3.

The Cubs' scoring began in the bottom of the 5th when Dansby Swanson doubled to left, bringing in Ian Happ. In the 6th, Christopher Morel hit a two-run homer, scoring Cody Bellinger and cutting the deficit to 5-3. Patrick Wisdom then delivered a pinch-hit, two-run homer to center, tying the game at 5-5. The comeback was completed in the bottom of the 6th with Ian Happ's double to right, scoring Bellinger and Morel to give the Cubs a 7-6 lead.

The excitement continued with the bullpen's stellar performance in relief of Imanaga. Hayden Wesneski, despite giving up a homer to Robert, looked solid. Hector Neris made the ninth inning dramatic by walking the potential tying run, who stole second base. But Neris redeemed himself by picking off the runner at second, followed by a pop-out to seal the victory. It was a great capper to a wild win.

The Cubs are a team filled with players who can catch fire and go on hot streaks for 10-14 days, and right now, it looks like Ian Happ is in that phase. We need to figure out a name for it. It’s like when you are “on a heater” at the Casino, share your thoughts in the comments.

Rivalry? Not So Much

Cubs vs. White Sox may not be the heated rivalry it once was, but a win's a win.

It's hard to call the Cubs/White Sox a rivalry nowadays. The Sox fans, long-suffering under Jerry Reinsdorf’s ownership, remind me of Washington Commanders fans dealing with Daniel Snyder. The apathy of ownership and fan frustration on the Southside is clear. Unlike our deep-seated animosity for the Cardinals, beating the Sox feels different. It's tough to trash-talk when their fans are already down. The suffering of White Sox fans is comparable to us Bears fans dealing with Aaron Rodgers on Sunday Night Football, while Cris Collinsworth drooled over him. That's the feeling White Sox fans have now unless they have no hope left. While I might not revel in beating the Sox as we do the Cardinals, it felt good to secure this win. Let’s keep our focus on the bigger picture

The Closer

The clutch hitting from Christopher Morel, Patrick Wisdom, and especially Ian Happ was the key to this victory. Morel added a crucial two-run homer to cut the deficit to 5-3, and Wisdom, whom I often criticized for his lack of clutch hitting, came through with a pivotal two-run game-tying homer. Happ's three hits on the night provided the spark we needed. These performances are exactly what we need to string together to build hope for the 2024 Cubs.

I don't want all our wins to be come-from-behind victories of 5 or more runs, but a win is a win. We need some dominant wins over the teams we have on the schedule in June. The Cubs will face struggling teams like the Mets, White Sox, Reds, and even the Rays. These are the types of games that can start to shift the momentum in our favor.