Seiya Suzuki’s missed eighth–inning fly ball that despatched the Chicago Cubs to a crushing 7-6 loss Tuesday will little doubt go down in infamy.

The rapid response from Cubs followers watching at dwelling was certainly one of horror, as many flashed again to an identical play on Sept. 23, 1998, at County Stadium in Milwaukee.

Like Suzuki, Cubs outfielder Brant Brown had been a key participant of their wild-card race. But when a fly ball by Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Geoff Jenkins bounced off his glove with two outs within the ninth inning, bringing dwelling three runs in an 8-7, walk-off loss, Brown felt like his world caved in.

“Basically my whole philosophy all year, no matter if I’m starting or coming off the bench, is just to try to contribute,” Brown stated that day. “Today wasn’t the best contribution. You just have to go on. Life goes on. It’s not the worst thing that’s ever going to happen to me. Hopefully it is, but you know, it’s just something that happened, and I can live with it.”

Suzuki stated a lot the identical. He had no selection however to overlook about it.

“If I dwell on it (Wednesday) I’m not going to give a positive vibe to the team,” he stated via an interpreter.

Brown’s teammates had his again, and instantly got here to his protection.

“There’s no rock big enough to crawl under when that happens,” third baseman Gary Gaetti stated. “It’s just part of the game. Physical errors are part of the game. They have always been. They will always be.”

First baseman Mark Grace referred to as him a “great kid” who had a nasty second.

“He did the best he could,” Grace stated. “Those things happen. Brant Brown has done a lot of great things for us this year. We’re going to back him 100 percent. No one feels worse than he does. But, by the same token, he’s our teammate and he’s someone we appreciate. Hopefully at the end of the season we can look back and laugh about this.”

Rod Beck, the Cubs nearer who was tagged with the loss, tried to let Brown understand it occurs to everybody.

“I know how bad he feels,” Beck stated. “I’ve been there. I’ve been there a lot.”

Suzuki stated Tuesday he was grateful his personal teammates had his again.

“I’m happy for those comments, but obviously these games are really, really important for us, and obviously that I dropped it is not the best result for us right now at this point in the season,” he stated. “Also those errors in the outfield don’t really lead to the best results. I feel I need to hold a better consciousness when I go out there and focus on the game.”

Cubs broadcaster Ron Santo made his well-known “Oh, no!” name on the Brown play for WGN-AM radio. His broadcast companion Pat Hughes instructed the story at Santo’s funeral that Cubs supervisor Jim Riggleman was consoling Santo after the sport. “The first time a manager had to console the announcer,” Hughes stated.

The Cubs bounced again that weekend in Houston and managed to play Game 163 and win the wild-card spot regardless of shedding on the ultimate day of the common season.

“Eerie,” Hughes stated Tuesday of calling the 2 comparable moments in Cubs historical past.

Cubs pitcher Drew Smyly stated Tuesday the Cubs would rebound.

“We have five more,” he stated. “We’ve got to dig deep. It has to be a total team effort.”

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