The Chicago Cubs are on fire, and Monday night’s dramatic 5-4 comeback win over the Cincinnati Reds proved it once again. Pinch-hitter Michael Conforto delivered the knockout blow—a solo homer in the ninth inning—to cap a two-run rally and extend the Cubs’ winning streak to six games. This victory also marked their 12th straight at Wrigley Field, the team’s best home streak since a 14-game run in 2008.
The NL Central leaders, now 23-12, have been unstoppable, winning 16 of their last 19 contests. Seiya Suzuki set the tone early with a mammoth 455-foot home run—the longest by a Cub this season—tying the game at 3-3 in the fourth inning. It was a much-needed spark after Chicago fell behind 3-0 against Reds starter Chase Petty, who was making his first major league start of the year.
But the Reds didn’t go quietly. Spencer Steer’s RBI single in the eighth inning off reliever Ben Brown gave Cincinnati a 4-3 lead, putting the Cubs on the brink of a rare home loss. That’s when the magic of Wrigley Field took over. In the ninth, Pete Crow-Armstrong led off with a triple to center field—a ball that popped out of Dane Myers’ glove as he crashed into the wall. One out later, Nico Hoerner tied the game with a sacrifice fly, setting the stage for Conforto’s heroics. On a full count, Conforto drove a 3-2 pitch over the center-field wall, and his teammates mobbed him at home plate as the crowd erupted.
The game started with a 1-hour, 40-minute rain delay, but the action more than made up for the wait. Cubs starter Edward Cabrera battled through six innings, allowing three runs on nine hits while striking out five. On the other side, Petty impressed in his season debut, giving up three runs and four hits over 5 2/3 innings.
Looking ahead, the Cubs send Jameson Taillon (2-1, 4.41 ERA) to the mound, fresh off seven strong innings against San Diego. The Reds counter with left-hander Andrew Abbott (1-2, 5.97 ERA). If Chicago keeps swinging like this, that home winning streak might just keep growing.
