NLDS Game 4: Cubs ninth-inning rally pushes them to the NLCS

The Cubs are going back to the NLCS after an incredible ninth-inning comeback. (Getty Images/Ezra Shaw)

The Chicago Cubs are heading to the National League Championship Series for the second consecutive season. Chicago pulled off an incredible comeback victory against the San Francisco Giants in Game 4 of the National League Division Series, inching closer to breaking their 108-year World Series drought.

Just like Game 3, this one proved to be both dramatic and exciting. The Cubs entered the ninth inning trailing by three runs, but clawed back for the win thanks to a combination of impressive at-bats, timely hits and a complete meltdown by the Giants’ bullpen. Giants manager Bruce Bochy blew through four different relievers during the inning, but none of them could get the job done. It’s an issue that plagued San Francisco the entire season.

With the comeback complete, Aroldis Chapman took the mound in the ninth inning and set the Giants down in order.

• Willson Contreras had one at-bat, but made it count. His single in the ninth inning drove in two runs and tied things up. Contreras came off the bench as a pinch-hitter for the at-bat, making his hit even more impressive.

• Matt Moore didn’t get the win, but he deserves recognition. Moore shut down the Cubs’ strong offense over eight innings. He allowed just two runs, one earned, on two hits. Moore struck out 10. Moore threw 120 pitches, which is why Bochy went to the bullpen in the ninth inning.

Javy Baez came through with a big hit in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the NLDS. (Getty Images/Ezra Shaw)

• Javy Baez dazzled on defense early, making some exceptional stops in the field, and positioning himself perfectly on a caught stealing. He would later come through at the plate, singling in the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning.

• Conor Gillaspie was, once again, an unsung hero for the Giants. Gillaspie finished the contest 4-for-4, with four singles. He scored one run and drove in one RBI. After his eighth-inning single, Gillaspie heard some “MVP” chants from Giants fans.

• The entire Giants bullpen deserves a spot here. After an exceptional start from Moore, the Giants bullpen couldn’t hold things together. Derek Law, Javier Lopez, Sergio Romo, Will Smith and Hunter Strickland all combined to allow four runs in the ninth inning.

• The Cubs did come back and win the game, but the team’s offense, other than David Ross, struggled throughout most of the contest. Until the ninth inning, Ross had both of the club’s RBIs and one of the two hits. The Cubs were saved by a strong final inning, and maybe that will be enough to wake up the bats this October.

• It wasn’t a great night for Cubs reliever Justin Grimm. Grimm allowed the Giants to extend their lead during a rough fifth inning. He only recorded one out, but was charged with two runs on two hits.

With the Cubs struggling to come back, Willson Contreras delivered the biggest hit of the night. With two men on base, Contreras smacked a 79 mph slider from Will Smith up the middle, scoring both runs and tying the game 5-5.

• Is this the year? The Cubs not only moved on to the NLCS, but did so in impressive fashion. The narrative surrounding this series was whether the Cubs’ curse could overcome the Giants’ even-year magic. Based on what they were able to do Tuesday night, it doesn’t seem like this Cubs team will be hindered by superstitious mumbo-jumbo.

• The Giants bullpen completely collapsed again. The Giants blew an incredible 30 games during the regular season, and those issues eventually came around to bite them in the playoffs.

After eight innings, it seemed like there was no way the Giants were going to lose.

Since 2010, Giants are 18-0 in postseason games when scoring at least 5 runs.

— Katie Sharp (@ktsharp) October 12, 2016

The Cubs are heading to the NLCS. The first game of the series will be played Saturday in Chicago. The time has not been announced yet. The Cubs will take on either the Los Angeles Dodgers or Washington Nationals. Those two teams will meet for Game 5 of their series Wednesday.