In Marmol We (Barely) Trust
Carlos Marmol is 1-for-1 as interim closer in place of the tired-armed (and recently blasted, both on the field and off) Kevin Gregg.
Since this is Carlos Marmol, the appearance was chock full of drama. Carlos, who entered Monday night against the Reds with the Cubs leading by 3, walked the first batter, then got a strike-out, then gave up a single to bring the tying run to the plate.
Marmol then got the second out, bringing Alex Gonzalez (not the former Cub but the other one) to the plate. What ensued was an endless at-bat full of blistering foul-offs, in the middle of which Lou Piniella had to scream at his team from the dugout to “slow down.” Gonzalez would end up raking a double to left, scoring a run and bringing the winning run to the plate.
Marmol looked anything but in command at this point; in fact it seemed inevitable that the Reds would rally for a stunning win. But, Marmol was able to at last fool a hitter, Willy Taveras, forcing a weak ground-out to end the game. Marmol fist-pumped. Cubdom breathed a huge, heaving, liquor-smelling sigh of relief.
And Carlos Marmol is still interim closer. Kevin Gregg has nothing to worry about. But Lou Piniella’s stomach does.
