WATCH: Maddon discusses loss, makes funny remark about Bryant losing ball in sun |
In his press conference following the Chicago Cubs' loss at Wrigley Field versus the Colorado Rockies on Thursday, Cubs skipper
Joe Maddon praised the starting pitchers who toed the rubber on the afternoon. The Rockies defeated the Cubs 3-1 in the finale of a hotly contested 3-game series that saw the Cubs take two of three. Making his debut start in the big leagues, rookie Rockies hurler Peter Lambert pitched a 7-inning gem that overshadowed a solid outing by Cubs starter
Jose Quintana, who lasted 7 1/3 innings.
"Both sides pitched well," Maddon said following the game. "Their third one scored on a ball hit in the sun. Both offenses were held in check." The "third one" that Maddon referenced was the third and final run scored by the Rockies, which was scored partially as a result of Chicago's Kris Bryant losing a towering fly ball in the bright sunlight. Starting in right field, Bryant was unable to catch the popup, which fell in for a double in the eighth inning. The lead runner advanced to third base on the play and was scored on an ensuing sacrifice fly. When asked about the sun-induced double, Maddon had a funny response. "It was a byproduct of the sun," Maddon told reporters. "Whoever put it there I was really upset with." When you put a 3rd baseman in right field at Wrigley. pic.twitter.com/D8qcERilAv Although the Cubs could not control the location of the great fireball in the sky, they could control their lack of hitting production on the day. Going 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position, the Cubs missed out on multiple scoring opportunities and lost because of it. The 3-game set served as a rematch of last year's National League Wild Card Game, which the Rockies won 2-1 in 13 innings at the Friendly Confines to end the Cubs' season. Playoff intensity was in the air this time around, as the series featured three close games that all came down to the wire. "Really a tightly contested series in all three games," Maddon said while reflecting on the series. "Both teams were good, and that's what you would expect." Joe Maddon discusses the Cubs’ 3-1 loss to the Rockies.
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