David Ross saw an opening for levity, and he took it.
“That’s the kind of thing I want when I bring you in (with) bases loaded, nobody out,” the Cubs manager said to reliever Duane Underwood Jr. “A triple play.”
Underwood started off his outing Wednesday with exactly that, in a 12-7 loss that carried few other silver-lining moments for the bullpen. It was the Cubs’ first loss to the Reds, in the third of a four-game series, but not the first time the Cubs bullpen had faltered in pressure situations.
“We felt good about where all those relievers were coming in,” Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said before the game.