An exhausted Dansby Swanson had pushed his body to the brink.
The emotional toll of the devastating knee injury his wife, Mallory, suffered in the U.S. national soccer team’s international friendly Saturday culminated with Swanson exiting in the sixth inning of the Chicago Cubs’ electric 14-9 comeback win Tuesday against the Seattle Mariners.
Before the inning, Swanson, positioned on the infield grass at the edge of the dirt, made one warmup throw to first baseman Trey Mancini, turned toward the Cubs dugout and signaled he needed to be replaced. The quick sequence was captured by Marquee Sports Network’s camera behind home plate.
The Cubs later announced Swanson departed with tightness in his lower left side, though manager David Ross described it as cramping after the game and did not sound overly concerned about a possible injury.
“Realistically I felt like my body was just kind of done,” Swanson said. “I felt like doing anything more probably would have put me in harm’s way.
“It felt like the night was over for me, pretty simple. I probably haven’t eaten or slept or drank enough water the past few days, so already getting fluids in me and taking care of myself.”
Swanson woke up at 4 a.m. Tuesday to accompany Mallory and her mom to the hospital for surgery to repair the torn patella tendon in her left knee. He spent most of the day there before reporting to Wrigley Field for Tuesday night’s game.
A high-scoring forward for the USWNT and the Chicago Red Stars, Mallory’s status for the World Cup that begins July 20 in Australia and New Zealand is in jeopardy. The surgery typically requires at least six months to recover.
“Glad we can be here together — I can’t imagine being apart right now,” Swanson said. “Everybody knows it’s a pretty tough and heartbreaking situation for her. I’m heartbroken for her. Just a lot of tears and sadness.
“Two things can be true at the same time: It can stink, and we can be sad and upset. We can also understand God’s bigger picture and plans and everything. … It’s just a sad time and we’ll get through it together.”
Swanson has somehow managed to play at an elite level amid the circumstances. Every time Ross asks him if he’s good, Swanson replies, “It’s my job.” A four-hit game Tuesday — his first since July 1 with the Atlanta Braves — and two RBIs were part of an offensive explosion by the Cubs.
Swanson credits his teammates and how they all want to perform for each other.
“I just love being here, love being with the guys,” Swanson said. “I’d like to think a lot of my strength doesn’t come from me. I pray a lot for strength and spirit each and every day, just allow the good Lord to guide me. Just thankful for the peace that comes with that.”
Swanson’s durability has become intertwined with his game. He started all but one game the last three seasons for the Braves, playing more than 3,318 innings at one of the most demanding positions. So some concern is inherent when he leaves a game.
Nico Hoerner shifted to shortstop and Nick Madrigal took over at second base upon Swanson’s departure.
About 15 hours before first pitch in Wednesday’s 1:20 p.m. series finale, Swanson sounded unsure whether he would be in the lineup. He had not fully discussed the topic with Ross, adding, “I don’t want to say anything, or not say anything, and get in trouble.”
Swanson plans to leave the decision up to his manager.
“The last thing I ever want to do is come out of games,” he said. “I have a little bit of an ego, pride thing with that. It just didn’t feel smart in the moment, just trusting my gut.”
The Cubs became the first team since Sept. 27, 2001, to be down seven runs by the second inning and lead by the end of the third, according to ESPN Stats and Info. Before Tuesday, the Cubs had lost their last 79 games when trailing by seven or more. Their most recent such victory was on April 14, 2018, versus the Braves.
An eight-run third, punctuated by Nelson Velázquez’s go-ahead grand slam, fueled the comeback and erased a rough 1⅓-inning start by Hayden Wesneski.
It was Velázquez’s turn to sport the cowboy hat Hoerner donned after his walk-off hit Monday. Velázquez finished with three hits in his first start since the Cubs recalled him from Triple A.
“I just keep doing the same thing I was doing down in Iowa and keep working on the same approach,” Velázquez said. “My confidence right now is 1,000%.”
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