3rd-base coach Willie Harris takes blame for 'bad send' in 9th inning that costs Cubs in 5-4 loss to Reds: 'Today's on me'

(670 The Score) Cubs third-base coach Willie Harris took the blame for his team’s gut-wrenching 5-4 loss to the Reds on Friday afternoon because of his “bad send” in which infielder Nick Madrigal was easily gunned down at the plate for the second out of the ninth inning with Chicago trailing by one.

With runners at first and third and one out in the bottom of the ninth as the Cubs trailed 5-3, outfielder Seiya Suzuki hit an RBI double down the left-field line that Reds outfielder Jacob Hurtubise cut off before it got to the outfield wall or the side wall. Hurtubise made an on-target relay throw to Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz, who has one of the best arms in baseball and fired a strike home to easily cut Madrigal down for the second out.

Suzuki took third on the relay home before Cubs star Cody Bellinger flew out to deep right field to end the game in the next at-bat. Had Harris held up Madrigal and the Reds still decided to pitch to Bellinger – which would’ve been a question with first base open – his flyout would’ve tied the game.

Afterward, Harris held a short media session, a rarity for a third-base coach.

“I’m watching the ball,” Harris said postgame in explaining his thought process. “I know who the outfielder is. I know his arm strength isn’t plus-plus. I took a chance on trying to score right there. It didn’t work out for us, unfortunately for me and the team. But you know, you have to be aggressive. You have to score runs. I know Belli was coming up next. My mindset was, ‘They’re probably going to walk him.’ If he’s safe, it’s a different story. But they made a play. Tip your cap to them and come back and play them tomorrow.”

Harris then took full responsibility.

“We all learn,” he said. “As we go, we all learn from our mistakes. Moving forward, I’ll be better than that. I think I’ve been doing a pretty good as the year has gone on so far, but today was just a bad send. He was out. Today’s on me. Hopefully the guys pick me up tomorrow.

“Moving forward, I’ll be less aggressive with one out, knowing the situation a little bit better. But today, like I said, it’s on me. I know those guys in the clubhouse. They know me. They know I’m for them, and they’ll pick me up tomorrow.”