Cubs defend decision to have Shota Imanaga face Manny Machado

Chicago – Cubs manager, Craig Counsell, defended his decision to leave the left -hander Shota Imanaga in the match to face the law Manny Machado in the fifth round of the victory of the San Diego Padres in match 2 of the NL Wild Card series on Wednesday.

Machado struck a first step separator for a two-point home run, extending the advance of the paadres to 3-0, the possible final score.

A decisive match 3 will be in Wrigley Field on Thursday.

“The results suggest that we should have done something different,” said Counsell after the loss. “Really just the confidence in Shota, simple and simple there. I thought he was tangled well. I thought he was launching the ball very well and, unfortunately, he made a mistake.”

The decision took place after Fernando Tatis Jr. walked, then took second place in the sacrifice of Luis Trouez. Which created an open base. Counsell said he was planning to walk Machado but had decided to present him instead.

“The walk was not in my head,” said Imanaga through an interpreter. “This separator was intended to descend into the area.”

Counsell was entitled to the right Mike Soroka, but he decided not to see him. It was a curious decision, given that the Cubs used an opener to start match 2, deliberately allowing Imanaga to avoid dealing with Tatis and Machado during the first round.

This was not the case in the fifth.

“I do not put the ceiling of a manager,” said Machado when he was asked if he was surprised that he could face Imanaga in this situation. “I’m 0 for 6 at that time. So yes, I don’t think about it. For me, I just thought of trying to go to Imanaga.”

Padres manager Mike Shildt said: “My hands are full with my own club. I can’t think of someone else’s strategy.”

The teams will play a winner 3 match on Thursday. The Padres will start the former Cubs launcher Yu Darvish. Righty Jameson Taillon will take the hill for Chicago.

“I’m excited,” said Taillon. “As [Game 2] I went there, I started to be excited for tomorrow. You do a lot of work throughout the season for great times. I can’t wait to be there. “”