Chicago – There's an actual term for what David Bote did Sunday night — the ultimate grand slam.
It's a walkoff, bases-full home run that erases a three-run deficit, and Bote became the 29th player in MLB history to hit one, joining the likes of Jason Giambi, Alan Trammell, Buddy Bell, Roberto Clemente, Bobby Thomson and Babe Ruth.
But wait, there's more.
This was just the seventh ultimate grand slam from a pinch-hitter. And adding to the drama, it was the first to erase a 3-0 deficit since Sammy Byrd of the Reds in 1936. And Byrd's came with nobody out, according to NBC Sports Chicago researcher Christopher Kamka.
There were two outs when Bote, a rookie infielder, stepped to the plate. And two strikes. And this was at Wrigley Field. On ESPN. Against a Nationals team the Cubs wiped out in last year's postseason.
"Magical," Bote called it.
It was his first ever walkoff and just his third grand slam. The first came in high school at Faith Christian, in Colorado. The second, he said, was at Class A Daytona during his six-year journey to the big leagues.
"He has worked his way into this situation," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "Give him credit. His work ethic is spectacular. His skill level is high. And it will keep getting better before it gets worse."
