Gore lights fuse, but fireworks never come
Speedster steals second, scores on Baez's double in eighth
CHICAGO -- Terrance Gore is fast. And he showed just how quick in the eighth inning of the Cubs' 2-1 loss in 13 innings to the Rockies in the National League Wild Card Game on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field.
But Gore's speed wasn't enough to get the rest of the Cubs' offense going.
With the Cubs trailing, 1-0, with two outs in the eighth against the Rockies, Anthony Rizzo singled and was lifted for pinch-runner Gore, who was added to the Cubs' NL Wild Card Game roster because of his speed.
:: NL Wild Card Game schedule and results ::
Gore stole second on Adam Ottavino's first pitch to Javier Baez without a throw and then raced home on Baez's double to left-center to tie the game.
"I felt like we wouldn't lose that game after Javy got the base hit," Cubs starter Jonathan Lester said. "For whatever reason, we did."
Gore was successful on all six of his stolen-base attempts with the Cubs during the regular season.
"You come out of the game there, Terrance Gore steals a base and scores and you can't really question it," Rizzo said. "Obviously, I don't ever want to come out of a baseball game. At that point, you go put your cheerleading pom-poms on and cheer the boys on. The motto this year was 'Everybody In,' and we exemplified that throughout the year."
The Cubs stranded 10 in the game and went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
"We had some opportunities, we just could not cash in," manager Joe Maddon said. "We caught the ball, we pitched really, really well. Like I said, the esprit de corps, I can't ask for more. So it was just something we really have to focus on in the offseason."