Cubs manager Joe Maddon is standing by his decision not to use All-Star closer Wade Davis in Chicago's loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of the NL Championship Series and is questioning the criticism coming his way.
Maddon insisted Monday that Davis was only available for one inning in a save situation. He dismissed the second guessing, a day after John Lackey gave up a three-run homer to Justin Turner in the ninth to send Los Angeles to a 4-1 win and a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 is Tuesday.
Maddon says Davis was still limited after a seven-out save in Game 5 of the Division Series against Washington. He adds the media "should be doing a better job than relying on Twitter."
Houston's A.J. Hinch says managers should ignore the heat and not tweet.
Chicago's Joe Maddon was criticized on social media for not using closer Wade Davis as the Cubs fell behind the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-0 in the NL Championship Series.
"When it doesn't work out it's a public slaying on Twitter," Hinch said Monday. "I would encourage any young manager to get off Twitter. It's not healthy."
John Lackey, pitching on consecutive days for the first time in his professional career, gave up a game-ending, three-run homer to Justin Turner that gave the Los Angeles Dodgers a 4-1 win in Game 2.
Davis, a three-time All-Star, threw 44 pitches on Thursday night in getting the last seven outs of Game 5 of the NL Division Series at Washington, his highest pitch count in in two years.
"I think some of the facts or details about those players is never going to be out there," Hinch said.
Maddon dismissed criticism when speaking with media on Monday.
"Social media doesn't count at all. Twitter doesn't count at all," he said. "And really, as sports writers, you should do a better job than relying on Twitter to write a story, quite frankly."
>>Yankees Blast Astros
Aaron Judge hit a three-run homer and made a pair of sparkling catches, leading CC Sabathia and the New York Yankees over the Houston Astros 8-1 Monday night and cutting their deficit to 2-1 in the AL Championship Series.
Todd Frazier hit a go-ahead, three-run homer into the short porch in right field in the second inning against Charlie Morton.
Sabathia allowed three hits over six scoreless innings for his first postseason win in five years.
Houston scored on a bases-loaded walk in the ninth before postseason star Jose Altuve grounded into a game-ending double play with the bases loaded.
Sonny Gray starts Game 4 for New York in the best-of-seven series on 11 days' rest Wednesday against Lance McCullers Jr.
