LOS ANGELES -- Go ahead. Eviscerate Joe Maddon for his end-of-game pitching decisions in the Chicago Cubs' 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday. But know this, there were extenuating circumstances surrounding closer Wade Davis, who never got into the game after throwing 44 pitches in Game 5 of the National League Division Series on Thursday.
As for Maddon’s late-game lineup decisions, there’s no ambiguity there. He allowed three righties to bat in the top of the ninth inning -- two with the potential go-ahead run on first base -- against all-world righty closer Kenley Jansen.