Cubs catcher blasts Arrieta after 7 steals
Chicago Cubs catcher Miguel Montero blamed pitcher Jake Arrieta for allowing seven stolen bases in a 6-1 loss to the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night.
Montero unloaded on Arrieta for his slow delivery not giving him a chance to throw out baserunners.
“It really sucked because the stolen bases go to me, and when you really look at it, the pitcher doesn’t give me any time,” Montero said. “So it’s just like, ‘Yeah ok Miggy can’t throw nobody out,’ but my pitcher doesn’t hold anybody on . ...
“That’s the reason why they were running left and right today because they know he was slow to the plate. Simple as that. It’s a shame that it’s my fault because I didn’t throw anybody out.”
The seven stolen bases — four by Trea Turner, two by Michael Taylor and one by Anthony Rendon — tied a Montreal Expos/Nationals franchise record.
Washington manager Dusty Baker called Arrieta “a guy you can run on” and said Montero “isn’t throwing like he was before,” and Turner noted Arrieta’s reputation for being “slower to the plate.”
Arrieta, who issued a season-high six walks and allowed six hits in four-plus innings, said he doesn’t care who’s behind the plate because Turner’s a threat any time he gets on.
l Manager Joe Maddon and some of the Chicago Cubs will visit the White House on Wednesday, though it’s not an official visit with President Donald Trump.
Maddon said that he was going out of respect for the Ricketts family, which owns the Cubs and donated to Trump’s campaign. Maddon said it was voluntary for Cubs players and not an official trip.
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l In his final start before the calendar changes, Kevin Gausman made sure he didn’t finish the month of June without a win. Gausman won for the first time in four starts, Mark Trumbo hit an RBI double and visiting Baltimore beat Toronto, 3-1. The Orioles won their third straight and improved to 8-2 against the Blue Jays.
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l Joey Votto bolstered his case for the All-Star Game with another big swing. Votto hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the fifth inning, helping last-place Cincinnati top visting Milwaukee, 8-6.
l David Freese misplayed a groundball at third base, allowing Steven Souza Jr. to score in the 10th inning and giving visiting Tampa Bay a 4-2 win over Pittsburgh.
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