For almost half an hour on Sunday, Chicago Cubs designated hitter Michael Conforto thought he had delivered a signature moment in the City Series against the Chicago White Sox, his first time playing in the intracity rivalry.
The veteran outfielder and role player delivered a game-tying, three-run home run in the ninth inning at Rate Field that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
“It felt like a playoff atmosphere,” Conforto said after the Cubs’ 9-8 loss in the series finale. “My first time in this rivalry, so it was pretty cool, and definitely, that moment, it felt big. It felt like the boys were fighting all the way down to our last outs and making sure we keep the pressure on them and to come through in that spot was big.”
The blast forced extra innings, and the Cubs took the lead in the top of the 10th. But the White Sox walked it off on Edgar Quero’s two-run home run against left-hander Ryan Rolison in the bottom of the frame.
“Look, it was a good baseball game,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “You have to say that when you’re on the losing end, too. It was a good baseball game. We were just on the losing end of it today.”
In a game with plenty of talking points, Conforto’s third home run of the year looked like it would be the exclamation point on an energetic weekend. Instead, it turned into the highlight of a what-could-have-been afternoon for the Cubs.
Right-hander Colin Rea had mostly kept the White Sox lineup in check a day after they had scored 10 runs. That changed with two outs and a pair of runners on in the fifth inning.
White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas hit a 102.8 mph line drive to center field, sending Pete Crow-Armstrong darting to chase it. The Cubs center fielder leaped against the wall, had the ball hit his glove, but missed it, dropping for a double and tying the game. The ball had a sub-10% catch probability and would have been a home run in 14 of the 30 MLB parks, per Statcast.
“I missed the ball,” Crow-Armstrong said after the loss. “Didn’t watch the replay, but I missed the ball.”
Crow-Armstrong remained on the ground briefly after right fielder Seiya Suzuki threw the ball back in, “processing the fact that I missed the ball.” As he sat there, a woman in the patio section beyond the wall began chirping at Crow-Armstrong, provoking a reaction from the 24-year-old.
“Some lady just decided to start talking s−−−, and I felt the need to say it back,” he said.
The White Sox drove in six of their runs on Sunday with two outs, with the Cubs unable to pick up the final out that could have changed things. It happened to the Cubs again in the bottom of the eighth inning when Tristan Peters hit his first career home run, a three-run shot to right field off reliever Phil Maton.
Maton entered the game with one out in the eighth and retired the first batter he saw, Chase Meidroth. He walked Andrew Benintendi on a full count and then surrendered a single to Quero on a 1-2 count before Peters’ home run.
Game 3 photos: White Sox beat the Cubs 9-8 in City Series at Rate Field
The outing spiked the veteran right-hander’s ERA to 9.49 in 12 1/3 innings across 14 games. The Cubs had signed him to a two-year, $14.5 million deal in the offseason, hoping he’d be a key leverage arm for them.
“We’re counting on Phil, and we’re going to need to pitch him in big spots,” Counsell said after the game. “So we need to put our heads together and help him get a little more confidence and more execution.”
Still, the Cubs’ lineup battled against White Sox closer Seranthony Domínguez in the ninth to set the stage for Conforto. He crushed a 98 mph sinker from the right-hander to center field for a 414-foot home run, his second hit of the game and third time reaching base.
It didn’t end up being the lasting moment he would have hoped for, but it was a hit that showcases his value to the Cubs’ bench and team. He was signed to a minor-league deal with a big-league spring training invite in the offseason after hitting .199 with a .637 OPS last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He’s hitting .345 with a 1.111 OPS this season with the Cubs and has been pressed into regular at-bats with rookie Moisés Ballesteros struggling (3-for-37 in May) after a hot start.
“We’ve got a really good option here in Michael Conforto,” Counsell said before the game. “That’s part of this story, too. You feel pretty fortunate to have (him). It’s just hard to deny Michael at-bats right now.”
The Cubs will hope Conforto can continue hitting after Sunday’s City Series loss. The team opens a three-game set with the Milwaukee Brewers, who have won the National League Central three straight years, at Wrigley Field on Monday.
“These are always going to be tough when they come down to the wire,” Conforto said. “It’s going to sting a little bit more. It’s nothing these guys haven’t gone through before. We got to show up to work tomorrow and flush it.
Roster moves
The Cubs selected the contract of left-hander Ty Blach before Sunday’s finale, optioning right-hander Javier Assad to Triple-A Iowa where they plan to stretch him out as a starter. Right-hander Hunter Harvey was moved to the 60-day IL to make room on the 40-man roster for Blach.
The team also claimed right-hander Christian Roa off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles and optioned him to Triple-A Iowa. The corresponding move was transferring right-hander Riley Martin to the 60-day IL.
Andy Martinez is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
