Miguel Montero Is A Hero, Cubs Take Game 1 Of NLCS

The Chicago Cubs took a 3-1 lead into the eighth inning on Saturday, where they found themselves in trouble for the first time all night. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases for the Los Angeles Dodgers with no outs, and so closer Aroldis Chapman got the call to salvage things.

Chapman, as usual, was absolutely ridiculous; 16 of his 17 pitches were 100 mph or faster. The first two hitters he faced went down swinging — but the third was Adrian Gonzalez, who singled to center field to tie the game. Usually the closest thing the Cubs have to a sure bet, Chapman headed to the dugout with the lead blown.

Only to be redeemed by Miguel Montero, who became a goddamn hero with a pinch-hit grand slam in the bottom of the eighth.

The Cubs went on to win, 8-4, after the Dodgers tried and failed to get a rally going in the ninth. Game 2 of the series is tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET.