Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (8/17/26): Cubs 7, White Sox 5 F/10 – PCA Opens, Closes Game with Bangs

The Cubs and White Sox began their series at Wrigley Field Monday night with a highly charged atmosphere, and the game did not disappoint. Pete Crow-Armstrong started the game with leadoff homer, then finished it with a walk-off shot for a dramatic extra-innings victory.

Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki went back-to-back to begin the bottom of the 1st inning against Luis Castillo. Shōta Imanaga ran into his only trouble in the top of the 4th when Randal Grichuk hit a go-ahead three-run homer to center field that gave the Sox a 3-2 advantage.

The North Siders went back in front in the 5th when Nico Hoerner dribbled an RBI infield single towards third with runners on the corners. Miguel Vargas tried to make a desperate throw and fired wide of first base, allowing a second run to come home and make it 4-3.

That’s where the score remained until Ryan Zeferjahn had more issues in the top of the 8th inning, giving up a go-ahead two-run homer to Andrew Benintendi that gave the South Siders a 5-4 lead. The Cubs did not go quietly in the bottom of the 9th with Hoerner knocking a game-tying RBI single off of Jordan Hicks to force extra frames.

The North Siders survived the top of the 10th unscathed and PCA wasted no time ending it in the bottom half with a two-run shot against Hagen Smith for a 7-5 win. (Box score)

Key Moment

Jacob Webb stranded the bases loaded in the top of the 10th to give his team a chance to win.

Why the Cubs Won

Despite numerous missed scoring chances, the lineup did just enough to win it.

Stats That Matter

• Imanaga had the strikeout working for him Monday: 6 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 10 K, and 3 BB.
• Crow-Armstrong appears to be done with his little cold spell and now has 30 homers.
• It was a four-hit day for Hoerner, who started at shortstop.

Bottom Line

The Cubs avoided what would have been a very annoying loss with some heroics at the end of the game, but they still need to figure out the bullpen ahead of Webb. PCA continues to demonstrate why he is the frontrunner for MVP in the National League. He has had nothing but game-changing plays all season long.

On Deck

The two sides meet again on Tuesday night at 7:05pm CT. Kevin Gausman gets to start in a matchup available on TBS and Marquee with a radio feed on The Score.