Swanson's four RBIs lead Cubs to third straight series victory

CHICAGO -- The Wrigley Field crowd unleashed a chorus of boos when Rangers reliever Chris Martin intentionally walked Kyle Tucker in the eighth inning on Tuesday. It was a decision that set the Cubs up for some late heroics on another frigid night at the Friendly Confines.

Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson found himself facing Martin two batters later in a 6-6 game with the bases full and one out, as the temperature continued to plummet from its announced first-pitch reading of 35 degrees.

“It’s always 75 and sunny in my mind,” Swanson said with a smile.

Swanson slashed an insider cutter from Martin into the right-center-field gap, bringing home a pair of runs with a single that sent the North Siders on course for a 10-6 win over the Rangers. The shortstop raised both arms skyward at first base as the bundled-up crowd roared during Chicago’s third consecutive series victory.

Throughout another overwhelming evening for the Cubs’ lineup -- the group scored at least seven runs for the seventh time in the past eight games -- Swanson was in the middle of everything. He ended with a home run, stolen base and four RBIs for the first time in his career, and made a dazzling defensive play in the ninth to help put the finishing touches on the win.

“Dansby’s been a really good player in this league,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “And he continues to make plays offensively, defensively, on the bases. He’s affecting all parts of the game.”

Swanson got things rolling for the Cubs with a leadoff homer in the second inning. Texas lefty Patrick Corbin -- making his season debut -- sent a 2-2 cutter up and in, and Swanson sent the ball rocketing beyond the left-field bleacher seats (107.7 mph exit velocity, per Statcast) for his fourth blast of the season. His four homers are tied for his most through the first 14 games of a season.

In the fifth inning, Swanson came up with the bases loaded and no outs and sent a 1-1 changeup from reliever Jacob Webb to deep center field. The sac fly brought Seiya Suzuki across the plate and ignited a three-run outburst that put the Cubs ahead, 6-3.

“You always know he’s going to defend and play great shortstop and be a great leader,” said Cubs righty Jameson Taillon, who logged a quality start in the win. “Offensively, he’s obviously got juice, but I just see him out there just playing really good situational baseball, too. And then when people make mistakes, he’s capitalizing.

“I’ve seen him move runners, and get them in from third, stuff like that -- Have selfless at-bats. And then obviously he’s hit some big homers, too. He’s in a great spot.”

So far this season, Swanson has come out of the gates swinging, with a .509 slugging percentage and an .809 OPS through his first 14 games. To go with the homers, he has notched three doubles, six walks, 11 RBIs and a pair of steals (one coming as part of a double steal in the eighth inning on Tuesday night).

Swanson’s production out of the fifth spot of the order has helped a Cubs offense that, at the time of the game’s end, leads the Majors in runs scored (94 overall and 6.7 per game), stolen bases (25 in 26 attempts) and walks (75). The North Siders’ latest outpouring upped the team’s OPS to .787 (third in the National League and fifth in the Majors).

“The consistency in the intent has been so tremendous from our group,” Swanson said. “Not taking at-bats off no matter what the score is. No matter what the situation is, just looking to do a job. Being intentional about running the bases. All those things are huge.

“I think that that has just shown what it takes for this group to be good. We’ve done that so far throughout this year and it’s been a joy to be a part of.”

After the Rangers pulled even with a three-run push against the Cubs’ bullpen, a pair of fielding errors -- combined with the intentional walk to Tucker -- set the stage for Swanson with the bases loaded and one out. Martin fell behind in the count, 1-0, leading to the moment that the Cubs shortstop swung the game’s momentum for good.

“I’m just trying to stay up the middle of the field,” Swanson said. “It’s kind of one of those things, ‘Why don’t I just do that every time I come up to hit?’ But I think that less is more in those situations, and understanding that we’re in the driver’s seat.”