CHICAGO -- Joe Maddon doesn't need rankings or a chart to know that the Cubs' defense has sprung a leak after playing to historic levels last season. He was parked at the end of the dugout on Sunday night at Fenway Park, when two eighth-inning plays spoke loudly.
First, Koji Uehara was slow in covering first base on a grounder to Anthony Rizzo, allowing Boston to put the go-ahead run on base. The Red Sox took advantage to take the lead, but it got worse when sure-handed shortstop Addison Russell handcuffed Rizzo with a low throw, allowing two more runs to score.