Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell smacked a bases-clearing long ball in the third inning of Tuesday’s Game 6 of the 2016 World Series, becoming the first-ever player at his position to hit a grand slam on baseball’s largest stage, per MLB Stat of the Day.
With the Cubs already nursing a 3-0 lead on the strength of a three-run first inning, Russell stepped up to the plate against Cleveland Indians reliever Dan Otero with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the third.
Russell was the first batter Otero faced upon replacing ineffective starting pitcher Josh Tomlin, who was charged with six runs on six hits and a walk while only lasting 2.1 innings.
The 22-year-old shortstop worked the count to 2-0 before driving an Otero sinker over the center field fence to open up a commanding 7-0 lead for Chicago.
Russell had already more than done his part in the contest, plating a pair of runs on a double in the first inning to cap off the aforementioned three-run rally.
While he made outs in his final three at-bats of the night, it was still one of the more memorable performances in recent World Series history, propelling the Cubs into Wednesday’s Game 7 in Cleveland.
Indians starter Corey Kluber will square off against Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks with the entire 2016 MLB season on the line.
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