The Chicago Cubs caused a sensation on Wednesday with a unique interplay of two pitcher. In their away game against the Milwaukee Brewers, they alternated between Left Field and Mound several times.
At the beginning of the eighth inning, right-handed Steve Cishek joined the Cubs and gave a single to right-handed hitter Orlando Arcia. Cubs manager Joe Maddon then returned to the bullpen and brought left-handed Brian Duensing to face lefty hitter Eric Thames.
But contrary to the usual practice Maddon did not take out Cishek, but Left Fielder Kyle Schwarber. Cishek, on the other hand, went to Left Field, which is highly unusual for pitcher.
Duensing managed the strikeout and then went to Left Field himself, since Duensing was on the mound again. He faced Lorenzo Cain, forced him into a groundout and then went back to Left Field. It was Cishek’s turn again, as it was Christian Yelich’s turn to go left-handed. And he hit a flyout.
“It was a bit frightening,” Duensing commented on the sequence. “I prayed a lot when I went out there. “I’ve never done this before.”
Maddon explained the measure as a preventive action: “If Extra Innings had actually worked, you’d have to save up a few pitchers and I’ve talked to these two guys about this scenario before. And it just fitted.” Maddon added: “The way her batting order was set up, it was a perfect fit. You can’t always do it, but today it worked.”
The Brewers finally won 1-0, but both pitchers were allowed to breathe a sigh of relief after the inning, because no fly ball went in their direction.
This article was published without previous view by the Major League Baseball.