Watch: Cubs’ Kyle Schwarber Dives Into Wrigley Stands For Catch In 5-4, 18-Inning Loss To Yankees

The Chicago Cubs fell to the New York Yankees 5-4 in an 18-inning, record-breaking 48-strikeout extravaganza at Wrigley Field on Sunday night, but Kyle Schwarber managed to secure a jaw-dropping catch.

Kyle Schwarber makes diving catch in Cubs’ 48-strikeout, 18-inning loss to Yankees

The outfielder jumped headfirst into the left-field seats along the foul line in the 12th inning to snag a pop fly from Chase Headley and keep the game tied 4-4. Cubs fans went wild as soon as they saw Schwarber make the astounding grab.

“I’m going to play hard and try to make every catch,” Schwarber said. “I guess I just stuck the glove out and it went in there.”

The left fielder traveled 116 feet to record the catch in the stands, which led his teammates to greet him with giants hugs as he returned to the field. Cubs manager Joe Maddon was also flabbergasted, and even compared Schwarber’s snag to that of a legendary former MLB star.

“How about that play?” said Maddon. “It was very Derek-esque [Jeter].”

Among the visitors’ top players was Aaron Hicks, who blasted a three-run homer in the top of the eighth inning. The Yankees left fielder blasted a 2-1 pitch off Canadian lefty Rob Zastryzny into the left-center-field stands to put New York up 11-3 with his sixth home run of the season.

Hicks also delivered big shots in the opening and closing frames. He ran home to start the scoring after Starlin Castro grounded out to shortstop to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead in the first inning, and provided the game-winning run in the 18th. With the score tied 4-4 in the frame, Hicks reached second following his bunt single and a tossing error by Wilson Contreras. Hicks advanced on Ronald Torreyes’ sacrifice against Pedro Strop, then scored on Castro’s grounder to short. Castro hit the ball straight to Addison Russell, whose throw Hicks beat to provide the Yankees with their fifth straight victory and a three-game series sweep in Chicago.

Castro contributed a two-run blast to left field off Dominican right-hander Felix Peña in the fourth inning that put the Yankees ahead 8-0. Filmmaker Spike Lee — a hardcore New York sports fan often seen at Knicks games — seemed content with the hit, as he clapped with approval:

“I’m excited. Exhausted, but excited that we put our team on top,” Hicks said. “They’re a great team. We’re a good team, too. To come in and beat them is a plus for us.”

Both teams had a reason to be fatigued after six hours and five minutes of play in a game that ended around 2 am EST, the Cubs’ longest matchup by innings since an 18-inning contest Aug. 15, 2006 in Houston. The longest major-league baseball game in terms of both time and innings was between the White Sox and the Brewers in 1984, a 25-inning slugfest that ended after eight hours and six minutes.

The 48 strikeouts, which came after more than 500 throws from 15 pitchers, also set a major-league record. The previous record (43) was set in 1971, during a 20-inning marathon between the Angels and A’s. The last strikeout came when Yankees left-hander Chasen Shreve retired Cubs righty Kyle Hendricks with runners on first and second to end the night.

“It was a gritty performance by our guys,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. The Bombers are now 20-9 for the best record in MLB, just a half-game lead over Baltimore in the American League East.

Luis Severino also delivered a great outing for the Yankees. The young starter allowed only four hits and one run (a solo homer off Javier Baez) and struck out nine while walking one.

Aaron Judge added a run-scoring triple for New York, while Jacoby Ellsbury contributed a two-run homer. Yankees relievers Jonathan Holder and Shreve combined to allow two hits over the last six shoutout innings, and struck out eight in total.

Aroldis Chapman, who on Friday received the World Series ring he won with the Cubs, blew a three-run lead and watched his team rally to win. Chapman, who had given up one run all season, walked Russell and allowed a single to Jon Jay to start the ninth inning. The former Cubs starter also struck out Schwarber and Contreras, and hit Rizzo on the forearm with his first pitch in the frame to force the run that tied it 4-4.

After 35 pitches, Chapman was substituted for Tyler Clippard, who took the game to extra innings by retiring Ben Zobrist on a grounder to second.

CHICAGO, IL – MAY 07: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Chicago Cubs hits a double against the New York Yankees during the fifth inning on May 7, 2017 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena