Chicago Cubs' Maddon shrugs off criticism

Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon shrugged off any complaints or grousing directed at him and his team for the way they pitched to - or didn't pitch to - Washington Nationals star Bryce Harper in Sunday's game.

During the Cubs' 4-3 victory in 13 innings, the Cubs walked Harper six times, with 3 of the walks being intentional. In the late stages of the game, Maddon walked Harper intentionally twice with runners at first and second.

Harper also was hit by a pitch, giving him 7 plate appearances without an official at-bat.

Nationals manager Dusty Baker said that although the moves worked, fans came to the park to see Harper hit.

"There's nothing really to react to," Maddon said Monday. "Of course, if you're a Cub fan, you loved it. If you're not, you don't necessarily. It was just a strategy of the game based on how they built their group. That's all it came down to. It was nothing I did.

"We had to react to the moment. We try to pick our best spots based on our abilities versus theirs, and that's how it played out. It happens every day. It just happened more often in (Sunday's) game."

Ryan Zimmerman, who batted behind Harper, flied out to end the 10th inning and grounded out to end the 12th after Harper was walked, moving runners ahead and loading the bases.

Washington pitcher Tanner Roark called it "scared baseball."

"I love it; it's really funny," Maddon said. "There's nothing I can say about that. The best way I can put it, I did not do anything to them."

Weekly honor for Zobrist:

Cubs second baseman Ben Zobrist was named co-player of the week in the National League, sharing the honor with New York Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon.

Colon hit his first career home run over the weekend at San Diego.

"Great," Zobrist said of Colon. "I like the home run trot even better. He played it off like he knew it was going to go. Either that, or he thought it was an out."

Zobrist is working out to be a key player for the Cubs after signing a four-year contract last winter. He entered Monday with a line of. 277/.406/.475 with 5 homers, 25 RBI and 23 walks.

"I wouldn't want to be on any other team right now," he said. "I don't think anybody else in this clubhouse would think differently. This is where everybody wants to be. There are probably a lot of players across the league who wish they were here, too, with what's going on.

"Chicago's the place to be right now in baseball, on both sides (of town)."

Montero getting closer:

Catcher Miguel Montero was on the field early Monday afternoon, taking batting practice and running the bases to test his back.

Montero, who has lower-back tightness, can come off the disabled list Tuesday, but he will first head out on a minor-league rehab assignment.