Sept. 30--Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon was so intent on letting rookie pitcher Carl Edwards Jr. pitch more than one inning Tuesday night that he let him bat for the first time in a major league game.
Unfortunately for Edwards, he had to face Cincinnati Reds left-handed closer Aroldis Chapman -- the hardest thrower in the game.
"My first major league at-bat, and I have to face him," Edwards said.
Chapman's first three pitches were balls, but Edwards was under orders from manager Joe Maddon to not swing. Edwards followed his manager's orders and struck out looking to end the top of the ninth inning.
"I thought about (swinging)," Edwards said. "But when I thought about it, it was 3-2, and my leg was in the air and the ball was in the mitt."
But Edwards got the chance to pitch more than one inning as Maddon is in the midst of examining all his options for the post-season. Edwards has walked three in four innings, but Maddon said he'll keep finding spots to use Edwards in more pertinent situations.
Edwards also admitted he wondered what it would be like to pitch in the playoffs without much major league experience. That was the case with Brandon Finnegan of the Royals last fall and David Price with the Tampa Bay Rays and Maddon in 2008.
"Those guys went out and had fun," Edwards said. "I'm going to follow in their footsteps and have fun. And I know what I'm capable of doing and know what I can do."
After retiring two batters to end the eighth, Edwards was victimized by a three-base fielding error by Austin Jackson and eventually was pulled after walking Joey Votto with one out in the ninth.
