Upon further review, Cubs fall to Astros
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Cubs manager Mike Quade is ejected from the game by umpire Marty Foster, center, as umpire Jeff Nelson listens in the eighth inning Sunday at Wrigley Field. Associated Press |
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Cubs starter Ryan Dempster took the loss Sunday, dropping his record to 10-13. He has pitched 190⅔ innings this season and is trying to reach the 200-inning mark for the fourth straight year. Associated Press |
Carlos Pena called it a “roller coaster of emotions.”
That roller coaster ended on the downswing Sunday for the Cubs, who lost a 3-2 decision to the Houston Astros at Wrigley Field, thanks in part to instant replay.
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Cubs scouting reportPena appeared to have brought the Cubs from behind and put them up 4-3 in the eighth inning with an apparent 2-run homer to left field.
Third-base umpire Marty Foster made an emphatic “home run” wave after the ball looked at first to have cleared the basket and hit the bleacher wall.
But as they say in the NFL, after further review, the ball hit the top of the basket and dropped down. Pena was called back and placed at second base. Starlin Castro, who was at first base, was forced to stay at third base.
Manager Mike Quade then received his major-league-leading seventh ejection as he argued with Foster that Castro should have been allowed to score.
“They got that right,” said Quade, whose team dropped to 67-86. “You guys saw the replay. The question becomes, ‘Where do you place guys?’ We had that situation a month or so ago with a fan-interference call. This was maybe a little different maybe because of the timing of when Marty called it a home run and whether Castro (slows) down or not.
“As I was told a month ago, they have to be sure that the guy can score. They have to be 100 percent sure the guy can score. I love the technology, and I like the fact that you can review even though it hurt us today.”
Pena said he didn’t believe Castro could score. The inning ended when Marlon Byrd, first-pitch swinging, flied out to leave two runners on base.
The teams then waited out a 1-hour, 7-minute rain delay before the Astros salvaged the final game of this three-game series.
“That was tough; that was a low line drive,” Pena said. “Even if he’s taking off with contact, that was a pretty clean pickup and throw back in. (Speedy Tony) Campana probably would had a tough time scoring with that low line drive off the wall.”
Dempster gets two:
Starting pitcher Ryan Dempster took the loss, falling to 10-13. He now has 190⅔ innings pitched, and Mike Quade said it’s likely Dempster will start Friday in St. Louis and the season finale Sept. 28 at San Diego. Dempster is bidding to reach the 200-innings mark for the fourth straight year.
Dempster gave up 3 runs in the first inning, throwing 33 pitches, but he settled down after that.
Another milestone:
Shortstop Starlin Castro led off the first inning with a double to increase his season hits total to 195. He also has reached base in 31 consecutive games, the most by a Cubs shortstop since Woody English reached in 32 straight in 1930.
Not in this house:
The Milwaukee Brewers come to town Monday, and they have a chance to clinch the NL Central crown at Wrigley Field this week — something the Cubs say they want to prevent.
“This is our home turf, so we want to go out there and win some games and have them not do that,” said Ryan Dempster. “I know they’ve had a good year, but I could really care less to see somebody clinch on our field.”
