Harper reaches base 7 times without recording at-bat
The Chicago Cubs had an interesting strategy for containing the reigning National League MVP on Sunday, and although Bryce Harper's on-base percentage loved it, the slugger wasn't a fan, as he failed to record an official at-bat.
"They had a plan," Harper told ESPN in postgame comments. "They had a plan, and unfortunately, it worked."
Chicago put the Washington Nationals superstar on base seven times with six coming due to walks - two intentional - and one by a hit-by-pitch, keeping the 23-year-old from doing any real damage in a tight contest that ended with a 4-3 Cubs victory in extra innings.
(Courtesy: MLB.com)
Cubs manager Joe Maddon, who has used similar tactics before, once intentionally walking Josh Hamilton with the bases loaded in 2008, told reporters after the game his team did what they had to do to come out victorious.
"I know that he's not as hot as he can be coming into this series, but you don't want to get him hot,'' Maddon explained. "I've been part of that in the past. We did what we thought we had to do today, and it happened to work, so good for our guys.''
Related: Tanner Roark: Cubs walking Harper was 'scared baseball'
With the loss, Washington was swept by the Cubs, and fell into second place in the NL East behind the New York Mets by half a game.