CHICAGO (AP) – David Ross got fired up when Cubs manager Joe Maddon walked to the mound with two out in the seventh inning, ready to argue for Jon Lester to stay in the game.
Maddon and Lester had a different plan.
“Joe looked at him and said ‘Have you ever been a part of where the catcher gets taken out of the game before the pitcher?'” Lester said, describing the scene with a big grin. “You can just see him, it’s like the kid at the candy store when you tell him he can pick out whatever he wants.
“It was just like the disbelief in his face and slams his mask back over his face and all he can say is ‘I love you guys. I love you guys. I love you guys.'”
Ross then walked off to another standing ovation from a raucous crowd of 40,859 at Wrigley Field, part of a heartwarming Sunday night for the backup catcher in his last season. He also hit his 10th homer and teamed with Lester for another scoreless performance, helping the Cubs to a 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.