The Chicago Cubs have six games left in the regular season, but the situations that surfaced during Monday night’s 1-0 win over the Kansas City Royals in 11 innings allowed manager Joe Maddon to put some of his players in key roles that might surface in the National League wild card game or later should the Cubs advance.
The moves came after Maddon revealed that he and staff members discussed what roles would be needed to fill the National League wild card game roster. “We weren’t specific with names,” Maddon said.
Nevertheless, it was easy to see who could fill what roles in the playoffs.
First, Maddon employed Trevor Cahill in the seventh inning, and Cahill responded with two scoreless innings.
Second, Maddon used left-hander Clayton Richard – not closer Hector Rondon – to start the ninth in a scoreless tie, and Richard induced formidable Alex Gordon to hit a soft fly to left before he was pulled in favor of Rondon.
“Cahill is turning into a force out of the bullpen, and the rest of their guys did their job,” Maddon said. “A really well-played game on a Monday night in front of a full house with a good vibe.”
With two out in the bottom of the 10th, Quintin Berry replaced Starlin Castro as a pinch-runner at first base, but Berry didn’t attempt to steal as Miguel Montero struck out.
Meanwhile, Kyle Hendricks might not pitch in the playoffs unless there’s a favorable matchup, but Hendricks helped his stock with six innings of two-hit ball. Hendricks struck out nine and didn’t walk a batter after the first inning.
“Come playoff time, you got to be ready for whatever (Maddon) asks you do to, whether it’s a start or come out of the pen,” Hendricks said. “I just hope I get innings or appearances.
“Whatever the team needs me for, that’s the bottom line.”
Finally, Maddon saved veteran Chris Denorfia for the bottom of the 11th as a pinch hitter, and Denorfia solidified his role as a top pinch-hitter by smacking Miguel Almonte’s first pitch for a game-winning home run.
Denorfia is 11-for-33 (.333) as a pinch-hitter this season.
“There’s never any panic,” Denorfia said of the Cubs’ mood. “When we’re on the fire or coals, we’re not sweating .We’re ready to get the job done and get good at-bats and make good pitches, and that’s why we’re going to the post-season.”
