Nick Martini came up big in a pinch-hit moment at Wrigley Field, facing the Cubs in the top of the 8th. The Illinois native had the entire section of his family watching, and with one on base, he battled through a long at-bat against veteran reliever Steve Cishek. He spoiled slider after slider, staying alive through a two-strike count and eventually working a full count. Then Cishek left a slider in the zone. Martini crushed it to right field for a two-run homer. His family erupted in the stands, celebrating the moment they’d waited years to see.
The reaction in the stands matched the energy in the dugout. Thumbs up all around as Martini trotted back after circling the bases. Cameras later picked up his dad’s reaction, catching him mid-celebration and clearly emotional. Martini’s journey to the majors wasn’t easy, and this moment hit hard for everyone watching, especially those who had been there from the beginning. It was a big swing in the game and an even bigger one for the Martini family.