Maddon: Cubs' walk-off win 'crazy stuff'
CHICAGO -- Maybe it's John Lackey's presence in the Cubs' bullpen in extra innings that results in crazy games. He was ready to go in the 12th if needed Thursday night but instead, Anthony Rizzo drew a walk with the bases loaded and two outs in the 11th to lift
CHICAGO -- Maybe it's
Lackey, who started on Tuesday, also was in the Cubs' pen on July 31 when the Cubs rallied to beat the Mariners in 12 innings on pitcher
"Crazy stuff," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "Entertaining? Yes."
"He has a tendency to quick pitch," Coghlan said of Cardinals pitcher
Coghlan did look at a replay of the at-bat and could only shake his head in disbelief.
"It's crazy -- that swing was better than the swing I took before," he said.
Coghlan also ignited a 7-6-2 relay in the seventh to throw out
"I know, playing here against the ivy, that the ball just stops," Coghlan said. "As I was running, I was like, 'I have to go to the wall all the way.'"
There was more craziness.
"I was just thinking, 'You don't need to make great pitches, just make good pitches and try to let him put it in play,' and it worked out," Montgomery said. "I felt good. It's my job to be ready for anything, and that's my focus."
The craziness ended in the Cubs' 11th when they loaded the bases with two outs against
What's going on?
"I guess just put 'Lack' in the bullpen and let him warm up," Lester said. "Walk-offs are just fun. You'd like to just cruise into the ninth and let the back end of the bullpen do its job, but walk-offs are fun. You get to jump around and act like idiots for a little while and celebrate it. It's almost like you get to go to the playoffs, and it's just a regular win."
Carrie Muskat has covered the Cubs since 1987, and for MLB.com since 2001. She writes a blog, Muskat Ramblings. You can follow her on Twitter @CarrieMuskat and listen to her podcast.