WATCH: Caratini pitches in ninth inning, gives up 2-run homer |
Due to the current status of the Chicago Cubs' worn-out bullpen, which has been used quite heavily as of late, Cubs manager
Joe Maddon opted to go with a position player to pitch in the top of the ninth on Sunday. With the Cubs trailing the Cincinnati Reds 8-2, catcher
Victor Caratini, who has been used as a reliever for the Cubs before, took the mound.
Recently, the Cubs' bullpen has experienced consistent turnover, featuring several call-ups and demotions, and injuries to back-end pitchers Brandon Morrow and Pedro Strop have continued to factor in, as well. Therefore, Maddon's decision to call upon Caratini to pitch was warranted. Caratini recorded all three outs in the top of the ninth but was taken deep in an instance of catcher-on-catcher crime, as Reds backstop Curt Casali drilled a 2-run bomb off a 65-mile-per-hour slider to set up the eventual final score of 10-2. Caratini gave up two hits and one walk in his 20-pitch outing, which marked the first instance of a position player pitching for the Cubs this season. Send us your basket emojis! ??????#BornToBaseball pic.twitter.com/ykkAhGjWhm
