David Ross has perfect response after Yan Gomes tackled Drew Smyly

Chicago Cubs manager David Ross had the perfect response to a question of if he would have kept Drew Smyly in for the perfect game had he not gotten tackled by Yan Gomes.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Drew Smyly was on the precipice of doing something on Friday not done since Felix Hernandez did so back in 2012 — pitch a perfect game.

With the Cubs up 13-0 over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the top of the eighth inning, outfielder David Peralta hit a bloop ground ball, causing Smyly to chase after it to get the out at first to preserve the perfect game.

However, Cubs catcher Yan Gomes collided with Smyly and fell on top of him, allowing Peralta to reach first base. With that, the perfect game ended.

After the game, Cubs manager David Ross was asked if he would have kept Smyly in the ninth inning had the perfect game still had been attainable. Ross provided the perfect response, saying “Oh yeah, I was going to ride him harder than Yan did.”

David Ross’ hilarious response to Drew Smyly losing perfect game to collision with Yan Gomes

So that answers the question of if Ross would have pulled Smyly from the game even with a perfect game in reach.

Smyly would face two more Dodgers batters after the collision, forcing second baseman Miguel Vargas to pop out and getting rookie James Outman to strikeout swinging. He was replaced by reliever Jeremiah Estrada for the remainder of the game.

In the game, Smyly threw 103 pitches, 68 of which were strikes. Smyly recorded 10 strikeouts and zero walks, while allowing the aforementioned Peralta hit in 7.2 innings.

Now on the year, Smyly owns a 3.13 ERA, a 0.91 WHIP, 23 strikeouts and five walks in four starts (23.0 innings).

Smyly was close to accomplishing something that hadn’t been done in over 10 years. Unfortunately, it was not to be. However, if he did have the perfect game intact after the eighth inning, Ross let it be known that he was going to keep him in the game.