CHICAGO — Cubs third-base coach Willie Harris took the blame for sending infielder Nick Madrigal home with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning in the team’s 5-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Friday.
Madrigal was out by a wide margin as catcher Tyler Stephenson tagged him after accepting the relay throw from shortstop Elly De La Cruz.
“I took a chance on trying to score right there,” Harris said. “It didn’t work out for us, unfortunately for me, and for the team.”
Madrigal was on first base, representing the tying run, when Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki hit a ball toward the left-field line that fell in front of Reds outfielder Jacob Hurtubise. Hurtubise quickly threw the ball in to De La Cruz, who turned and fired a 93.3 mph strike to Stephenson as Madrigal came sliding home. The play at the plate wasn’t even close.
