Benches clear in Miami after Cubs' homer; Maddon apologizes
MIAMI
Dugouts and bullpens cleared during the sixth inning of the Miami Marlins' 7-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night at Marlins Park.
After Junior Lake's one-out, two-run homer off righty Dan Haren cut Chicago's deficit to 6-2, he watched the ball land in the left-field seats before a bat flip. As he rounded third, he made a shushing motion to the Marlins dugout.
"After I crossed first, I knew that I didn't do it right," Lake said after the game through translator and Cubs catcher Miguel Montero. "But after that I heard them chirping from the other dugout and that's what took me to kind of lose control a little bit. I already knew I didn't do it right. I wanted to actually apologize, but they kept screaming at me and I'm a man too and have some feelings."
Catcher J.T. Realmuto spoke to Lake at home plate. As Lake exchanged words, Marlins ace Jose Fernandez — on the 60-day disabled list recovering from Tommy John surgery — vaulted over the dugout railing and raced onto the field. Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who scored on the homer, restrained Lake.
#Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez (@JDFernandez16) was 1st out & backing his teammates when benches cleared tonight. pic.twitter.com/IgTngI2yga
— FOX Sports Florida (@SunSportsFOXFL) June 4, 2015
Both dugouts and benches cleared. No one was ejected. Players continued chirping as the inning resumed after Lake's first dinger of the season and 16th of his career.
Following the game, Fernandez said he thought it was disrespectful for Lake to do that to Haren, a 13-year veteran who is "really respected." He called Lake putting his finger to his mouth over the line. Haren said it was the first time he had seen a player do that to a dugout.
"I got caught in the moment," Fernandez said. "I don't see it right what happened. I don't agree with it, and I probably shouldn't run out there on the field, but I think the emotions took over. It happened, and I went out there."
It marked the second time this series a Cubs player's reaction to a homer caused offense. Starlin Castro stared at his solo homer off righty Bryan Morris on Monday, but the Marlins did not retaliate.
"I'm not an old school type, not allowed to pimp any home runs or anything, but the guy's hit (16) home runs in his career, his team's losing 6-0," Haren said. "I think if you were to ask his own team they would probably be embarrassed by it, and his own manager was probably embarrassed by it because Joe Maddon is one of the best. It's a little bit disrespectful for me. I didn't like it, team didn't like it."
Maddon spoke to Lake after the game about that not being acceptable. Once the incident cooled down, Maddon told Marlins pitching coach Chuck Hernandez, "It's our fault, and we'll take care of it."
"I don't want to stake the fight there by acting like a punk," Maddon said. "I don't want us to take a page out of ‘Major League' and flamboyantly flip a bat after a long home run. I don't want that at all, that has nothing to do with us ascending. I would even like to use this moment even for our minor-league guys that it doesn't play. For our kids watching, it doesn't play. Don't do that; that's not cool. It's very, very much not cool. If you're watching the game back home in Chicago tonight, don't do that."
In the eighth inning, GM-turned-manager Dan Jennings got ejected for the first time in his career arguing a check swing call on David Ross, who walked instead of striking out. Plate umpire James Hoye rung Jennings up after he ran onto the field and had some choice words.
"Sometimes a team needs a benches clearing, manager getting thrown out," said Haren, whose team has won three of four series. "Probably a tough spot for him because he’s never gotten tossed before. It was impressive. He did a good job."
You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.
