Cubs manager Joe Maddon reiterated his faith in left-handed reliever Justin Wilson.
But Maddon was forced to pull Wilson with a 2-0 count on Harrison Bader after Wilson walked Carson Kelly to start the eighth inning.
“I did not want the game to get beyond one run right there,” Maddon said Tuesday night. “I thought we could win it. Based on his last performance, I thought he’d be OK. I was trying not to have two guys on and then bring in C.J. (Edwards).”
Edwards walked Bader but managed to keep the Cubs’ deficit at one as they fell short in an 8-7 loss to the Cardinals that postponed their National League Central clinching hopes by at least one more night.
As for Wilson, he continues to be an enigma since joining the Cubs in a July 30 trade from the Tigers. Wilson has walked 18 in 15 2/3 innings but showed some promise Sunday by striking out three in 1 1/3 innings at Milwaukee.
Those control problems need to be corrected before the Cubs set their 25-man roster for the first round of the playoffs, presumably against the left-handed hitting heavy Nationals.
“It’s a big boys’ game,” Maddon said. “He’ll be fine. We’ll get him back there. I still have a lot of confidence. It just wasn’t going to work (Tuesday). I thought I had to move it along.”
