ARLINGTON, Texas — Roughly a half-hour after the Cubs were handed their second straight loss Sunday evening, Cole Hamels stood at his locker and faced the music.
He was presented an opportunity to at least partially blame home plate umpire James Hoye for the big fourth inning that helped swing the game in the Rangers favor, but Hamels didn't take it.
Instead of blaming the questionable calls, the 35-year-old veteran was accountable and took responsibility for the loss.
With a runner on first, two out and the Cubs holding a 4-1 lead, Hamels walked Logan Forsythe on a full count pitch that was somehow called a ball (left image below) and then wound up walking Jeff Mathis with another curious call mixed in:
Cole Hamels' eighth pitch was called ball four against Logan Forsythe (photo 1); second pitch to Jeff Mathis also called a ball (photo 2).