Maddon: Chapman was key to Game 1 victory

CHICAGO — Aroldis Chapman may have given up a game-tying two-run single to Adrian Gonzalez in the eighth inning on Saturday night, but there’s no one else Cubs manager Joe Maddon wanted in that situation, and he believes the lefty actually saved the game.

“If you look at it retrospectively, the reason we won that game was because of Chapman,” Maddon said Sunday. “Even though he gave up two runs, he didn’t give up any more than that.”

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Chapman entered with the bases loaded and struck out Corey Seager and Yasiel Puig before Gonzalez’s hit. The Cubs responded when Miguel Montero belted a pinch-hit grand slam in the Chicago half of the eighth en route to an 8-4 victory in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series.

Game Date Time Matchup TV/Highlights Gm 1 Oct. 15   CHC 8, LAD 4 Gm 2 Oct. 16 LAD @ CHC FS1 Gm 3 Oct. 18 8 p.m. CHC @ LAD FS1 Gm 4 Oct. 19 8 p.m. CHC @ LAD FS1 *Gm 5 Oct. 20 8 p.m. CHC @ LAD FS1 *Gm 6 Oct. 22 TBD LAD @ CHC FS1 *Gm 7 Oct. 23 TBD LAD @ CHC FS1 * If necessary | All times listed ET  • NLCS coverageShop for postseason gear: Cubs | Dodgers

Chapman has said he prefers coming into the game with no one on base, and he did not fare well in Game 3 of the NL Division Series against the Giants when he was called on with two on in the eighth.

“We didn’t do a good enough job getting him at least one or two outs in that inning,” Maddon said of Saturday’s outing. “I put him in a really bad spot. When you strike out Seager and Puig, you’re doing a pretty good job — you’re doing an outstanding job, actually.

“You can’t fault him at all,” Maddon said. “I need to put him in a better …

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