Cubs Play Game vs. Nationals Under Protest over Sean Doolittle's Delivery Pitch

[ad_1]

Washington Nationals reliever Sean Doolittle follows through on a pitch to a St. Louis Cardinals bat during the ninth inning of a baseball game Thursday, May 2, 2019, in Washington. The Nationals won 2-1. (AP Photo / Patrick Semansky)

Patrick Semansky / Associated Press

The Washington Nationals defeated the Chicago Cubs 5-2 Saturday night at National Park, at least for now.

In the ninth inning, Joe Maddon's cubs manager took issue with the pitching delivery of Nationals closer to Sean Doolittle, who could be seen tapping his toe while winding up to throw home. Tea Chicago TribuneMark Gonzales reported the Cubs played the game under protest.

Todd Dybas @Todd_Dybas

The umps are going to look at … I do not know what. Maddon is obviously bothered by Doolittle's toe tap on the delivery here. What is the penalty for the toe tap?

Jesse Dougherty @dougherty_jesse

Maddon had a talk with home-plate Sam Holbrook's umpire and now they are speaking again. Dave Martinez came out to give his two cents. We're in the dark, but it's really slow down in the ninth.

Jesse Dougherty @dougherty_jesse

Joe Maddon is out again talking with Sam Holbrook and the converging umpires. The crowd is booing him. He is adamant that something is wrong and is saying, "That's twice!"

According to MLB, "Managers can protest when they allege that the umpires have misapplied the rules. The umpires must be notified of the protests at the time of play. If the game in question ended the game, a protest may be filed with the league office until noon the following day. "

"It was a thinly (veiled) attempt to throw me off my game," Doolittle said of the Cubs' protest after the game, according to The Athletic's Brittany Ghiroli.

He added: "Sometimes [Maddon] has to remind people how smart he is. … He put his stamp on that one for sure. "

Despite the protest, Doolittle delivered a 1-2-3 record of the game and give Washington a 19-26 record on the season.

Madden has already had a run-in with the toe tap in 2019, as the league told Cubs reliever Carl Edwards Jr. that ESPN's Jesse Rogers reported on April 1.

The controversy to end the game overshadowed a solid performance from Stephen Strasburg's Nationals starting pitcher, who got the win by giving up and winning.

The plot twist will make the match between the Cubs and Nationals all the more interesting, will be featured on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball beginning at 7 p.m. ET.

[ad_2]

Source link