Roark: Cubs ‘playing scared baseball’ after walking Bryce Harper six times
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The Cubs walked Nationals star Bryce Harper six times in their 4–3 extra-inning win on Sunday, which Washington starting pitcher Tanner Roark described as “scared baseball.”
Harper’s six free bases tied the major league record for most walks in a single game on Sunday afternoon. The Cubs walked him 13 times in the four-game series, which he finished with one hit in four official at-bats. He walked 10 times in his final 11 at-bats and hit a sacrifice fly.
The Cubs won Sunday’s game in 12 innings thanks to a walk-off home run by Javier Baez. After the sweep, Cubs manager Joe Maddon defended his team’s strategy.
“If the other guy gets you, that’s fine. You have no problem with that,” Maddon said. “I know [Harper] hasn’t been as hot as he can be coming into this series, but you don’t want him to get hot. We did what we had to do today, and it happened to work.”
• JAFFE: Cubs’ strategy pays off in sweep
Roark pitched six innings and surrendered just four hits while striking out seven on Sunday. His lineup did not provide much offense all weekend as the Cubs managed to keep Harper from swinging.
The Cubs hold the best record in baseball at 24–6.
