To say Patrick Wisdom has had a limited role lately is an understatement.

Entering Saturday, the slugger has had just 15 plate appearances since June 23 and 6 had come as pinch-hit appearances. It’s tough to settle into a groove in a role like that — and Wisdom was hitting just .200 in those 15 plate appearances.

That didn’t matter to Craig Counsell, who made a risky maneuver on Saturday night in Kansas City. Trailing by a run in the 7th with the bases loaded and 1 out, Counsell opted to have Wisdom pinch hit for Pete Crow-Armstrong. The Cubs’ only other center fielder was their DH, Mike Tauchman, so Counsell knew he’d be losing the DH spot by bringing in Wisdom.

High risk, high reward. Wisdom made sure it was worth the price.

Wisdom clubbed a no-doubt, pinch-hit grand slam to left field to give the Cubs a 7-4 lead as they went on to beat the Royals 9-4. It’s the biggest inning the Cubs have had since the All-Star break and their 9 runs in a game are the most in that time, too.

In the bottom half of the inning, Tauchman did come into the field to man center and Wisdom’s day was done. Wisdom’s role on the roster is to do exactly what he did Saturday — not an easy task, but he delivered when the team needed him the most.