Tough finish leaves Schwarber steaming as Cubs fall short

Plus: White Sox shut down by Sabathia, Yankees.

Three takeaways from the Cubs’ 6-5 loss to the Angels on Saturday at Wrigley Field.

1. Don’t mess with Kyle Schwarber when he’s angry.

Schwarber’s reaction to the ruling on his game-ending, check-swing strikeout in the ninth inning was as angry as we’ve seen him in his five-year career.

“It could’ve gone either way,” Javier Baez said of the call. “I think it was the emotion of the game. Everybody was hyper. I just think the umpire (Gabe Morales) called it a little too early. That’s what got Schwarber fired up. It happens. That’s when we can’t control ourselves. Obviously if he drops a walk right there we (can) tie the game.”

Baez held back Schwarber before he could get to Morales, preventing a possible suspension had Schwarber made contact.

“I saw the home umpire (Jerry Meals) throw him out,” Baez said. “I couldn’t let him make contact with (Morales). He’s a pretty big dude. I put a big dig in. He played football. I never played football in my life. He kind of took me with him, but I held him pretty good. He moves to his sides pretty good. He almost got by me, but I played good defense.”

Manager Joe Maddon said he never saw Schwarber’s bat move.

“Everybody is worried about electronic strike zone,” Maddon said. “I want an electronic method to control check swings. That would be much more interesting and I would prefer that. Let the umpires call the games like they always do and have a way to control check swings. I have ideas on that.”

2. The Cubs need to update their phone technology.

A technological snafu in the visitors’ dugout prevented the Angels from asking for a challenge on Brian Goodwin’s dropped fly down the left-field line in the ninth.

Manager Brad Ausmus said he would’ve challenged for fan interference, but the dugout phone was not working.

"Unfortunately our replay phone went down right then,” Ausmus said. “They couldn’t get a hold of us. I don’t know if it would have been overturned for fan interference, but it was certainly something we would have challenged. (Angels replay coordinator) Matt Martin tried to call four times and it didn’t work. By the time he got to us the 30 seconds were gone. …

Added Goodwin: “That’s a pretty big coincidence, but what are you gonna do?”

3. Sunday’s forecast is bleak.

One Cubs player said after the loss he would have preferred to play a doubleheader, knowing snow and rain are in the forecast for Sunday.

“Maybe we can bus up to Milwaukee and play the game at Miller (Park),” he joked.

That’s not happening, but Ausmus said he would prefer to postpone the game early if the only other option is waiting all day for a window to open.

“I have not been told anything,” Ausmus said. “I don’t really know what the Cubs are thinking. I don’t know what will happen. I do not want to burn a starting pitcher and sit around all day. That would not be ideal.”