Column: Justin Turner's walk-off home run seals the Chicago Cubs' 5-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles

Chicago Tribune

3 days ago

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.'