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Jesse Rogers, ESPN Staff Writer
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.
Moments later, Cody Bellinger flied out to end the game.
“We all learn from our mistakes,” Harris said. “Moving forward, I’ll be better than that. I think I’ve been doing a pretty good job. Today was just a bad send. Today is on me. And hopefully the guys will pick me up tomorrow.”
Madrigal added: “My job is to put my head down and give it my best effort. He made a perfect throw. This time it didn’t work. We’re not going to get down about it.”
The throw from De La Cruz was his fourth fastest of the season and 11th at 90 mph or more, according to Statcast. That ranks third among infielders behind Pittsburgh‘s Oneil Cruz and St. Louis‘ Masyn Winn.
“Moving forward, I’ll be less aggressive with one out, knowing the situation a little bit better,” Harris continued.
Meanwhile, the out at home was the Cubs’ 27th on the basepaths (excluding stolen base attempts), the most in baseball. That includes another one in the fourth inning Friday when Dansby Swanson got caught off third base on an infield single.
“That’s my fault as well, I guess,” Harris said.
The loss dropped the Cubs to a season-worst-tying two games under .500, last achieved after their first two games of 2024.
Chicago finished the month 10-18, just slightly better than Cincinnati’s 9-18 record in May. Both teams are looking up at the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central, but it’s the Cubs who will lament Friday’s game after the questionable, ninth-inning send.
“Willie has been fantastic and his aggressiveness has got us a lot of runs this year,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “It didn’t work this time.”