Written by Cody Pace at MLB.com
In the top of the eighth inning Monday night, a sea of Cubs fans erupted at Great American Ball Park as third baseman Kris Bryant trotted around the bases.
As he entered the dugout, they only got louder — beckoning Bryant for a curtain call. Bryant, reluctant, hid in the dugout. Even after outfielder Jason Heyward pulled him to the dugout railing, Bryant avoided his curtain call and was quickly saved by an Anthony Rizzo home run.
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But Bryant deserved it. That home run was his third of the game, capping a historic 5-for-5 night in an 11-8 Cubs win over the Reds. In Bryant’s first career five-hit game, and his first three-homer game, he became the first player in modern Major League history, dating back to 1913, to hit three homers and two doubles in one game.
“Guys were pushing me out, but I’ve never been the type to show up an opponent or anybody. I don’t think that’s ever happened in baseball and I definitely didn’t want to be the first,” Bryant said of a curtain call at a road park. “I’m just not that type of player. I’m glad my teammates are having fun with it. I’m glad there are a lot of Cubs fans here, but I’m not that guy.”
Bryant also set a Cubs franchise record with 16 total bases, making him the 19th player since 1913 with 16 or more total bases in a game. He also became the second player in Cubs franchise history with five extra-base hits in a game, the only other one being George Gore on July 9, 1885 (three doubles, two triples).
“The best game of my whole life, obviously,” Bryant said. “To hear that, there’s so many good players in this game, it’s just, I feel so fortunate, so thankful for this opportunity to play on a stage like this every day, and I give it my all and I make the most of every opportunity I get. To hear that, it keeps you coming back.”
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