With the Marlins leading 5-4 with runners on second and third and one out in the top of the ninth, Ryan induced Martin Prado to hit a one-hopper back to the mound. Neil Walker ran halfway home from third and appeared stuck in no man's land, an out waiting to happen. Ryan looked at him but then abruptly threw to first for the second out, allowing Walker to score.
Even though the Cubs recorded a double play by nailing the trail runner, the damage was done. Miami took a 6-4 lead, which was just good enough to hold up when Chicago third baseman Kris Bryant hit a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth.
Ryan told it like it was in explaining his gaffe.
"I froze," Ryan said. "I knew the whole situation -- I just froze. I checked the runner and saw him. I just froze.
"We got the double play, but KB hit a homer and it could have been a tie game. So yes, I was a little upset. Actually, I was very upset. I sure hope to move on from it. I will try to learn from it."
Left-hander Cole Hamels, who threw six innings of three-run ball, expressed his support for Ryan.
"I have made my fair share of not getting outs when they are there to get," Hamels said. "Sometimes the game can speed up on you a few times. We all can do it. This is a big lesson to sort of learn this part of the season. He is going to be a big part of this team as we go forward. That is especially true as we move toward September and into October-type baseball. He will probably go back and revert to that. This was a good lesson for him. He will eventually be in a big situation and come through."