#CatchersWhoPitch: Miguel Montero was the Cubs' best pitcher on Saturday
Cubs manager Joe Maddon needed a hero on Saturday night against the Yankees. His team was en route to an 11-6 loss and the bullpen was depleted, so he needed a position player to take the mound.
Fortunately for Maddon, he already had someone who was well-prepared for the task -- catcher
This time, Montero was tasked with controlling New York's other team.
It wasn't the smoothest inning. Montero got two outs, but sandwiched them around walks to
"It was scary -- the last thing I want to do is hit somebody in the head," Montero said to MLB.com's Carrie Muskat. "The ball just came out of my hand, and it's cold. I'm not a pitcher, and I just tried to throw the ball over the plate as best I can."
It all worked out anyway, though. Montero induced a fly ball from
"I put a zero on the board," Montero said about the ovation. "An ugly one, but I put up a zero."
Although his team lost, Montero could take a small solace of pride out of his night. Of all four Cubs pitchers who took the mound on Saturday, he was the only one who didn't allow a run. His manager was certainly appreciative. "We needed that," Maddon said. "We needed that like oxygen."
Sure, Montero allowed some walks, but that's why the term "effectively wild" exists.