Cubs' Hodge completed save after apparent heart issue on mound
Chicago Cubs reliever Porter Hodge fought through an apparent heart issue to record the save in Tuesday's win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
While facing Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy with two out in the ninth inning, Hodge stepped off the mound in apparent discomfort. He took deep breaths while being tended to by Cubs trainers, as well as manager Craig Counsell and catcher Miguel Amaya.
Hodge was eventually cleared to remain in the game. He finished the at-bat, and win, successfully when Pete Crow-Armstrong stole a potential Muncy homer to seal a 6-3 Cubs victory.
"We noticed he was just going super fast, and then at some point, his heart was racing, and just to the point where he was concerned a little bit," Counsell explained postgame, per MLB.com. "He said it had happened to him before and it would go away and nothing would (come) of it. So it took him a couple minutes, but it went away, and he said, 'I'm good to go.'"
The skipper added that the team may send Hodge for further testing.
Hodge, 23, has tallied five saves with a 1.66 ERA and 46 strikeouts over 34 appearances since making his big-league debut in May. He recorded the final three outs of the Cubs' combined no-hitter at Wrigley Field on Sept. 4.