Maybe that even-year magic has run out.
Instead, the Chicago Cubs were the ones who got the last laugh Friday in their National League Division Series Game 1 win over the San Francisco Giants.
Javier Baez sent the Cubs home with a 1-0 win thanks to a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning. As a result, Chicago now has a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five-game series.
Despite Baez’s homer, the real story was the pitching in this one.
Jon Lester threw an absolute gem for the Cubs, shutting out the Giants over eight innings. He only allowed five hits and struck out five. Johnny Cueto was the tough-luck loser, but he still went the distance and allowed only three hits while striking out 10.
Thumbnail photo via Dennis Wierzbicki/USA TODAY Sports Images