Cubs' Junior Lake taunts Marlins on home run trot; benches clear

MIAMI -- There was no ambiguity with the apology after the game as Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon and outfielder Junior Lake took responsibility for Lake's actions following his home run off Miami Marlins starter Dan Haren in the sixth inning of the Marlins' 7-3 win Wednesday night.

Lake stared at the ball as it left the yard, threw his bat away and then slowly made his way around the bases. After hearing Marlins players yelling at him from their dugout, he made the "shh" sign to them as he rounded third base. That led to both benches emptying near home plate, although no punches were thrown and there were no ejections.

"We don't do that here," Maddon said after the loss. "It'll be the last time you see it."

Lake said the emotion of the moment caught up with him and he knew right away he had made a mistake.

"I knew after I crossed first I didn't do it right, but after that I heard them chirping from the other dugout and that caused me to lose control a little bit," Lake said with catcher Miguel Montero acting as his interpreter. "I just want to really apologize to Haren and fans and the rest of the team."

Haren said Lake's behavior was disrespectful.

"I didn't like it. The team didn't like it," Haren said. "It's his first homer of the year, so congratulations to him. I've given up about 500 homers in my career, so big deal."

Marlins ace Jose Fernandez, who is still on the disabled list recovering from Tommy John surgery a year ago, led Miami's charge onto the field, vaulting over the railing.

"I probably shouldn't have gone out there on the field, but emotions took over," Fernandez said. "We're not trying to fight. We're not boxing or UFC. I got caught in the moment."

The Cubs (now 27-24) deny their ascension in the standings had anything to do with the incident -- saying it was simply a one-time thing -- although shortstop Starlin Castro also slow-jogged around the bases after a home run in Monday's game.

"We have no reason to get under people's skins," Anthony Rizzo said. "Just playing the game hard."

Lake is known as a character in the clubhouse, and he had just hit his first home run of the season, so maybe the moment did get to him.

"Joe told me it wasn't the right thing to do, and I recognize I wasn't right," Lake said. "Part of the emotions, part of the game. I actually wanted to apologize to Dan Haren. I didn't mean it."

Maddon had a talk with Lake, and the incident was deemed closed. In fact, the manager was actually apologizing during the incident.

"I told them at home plate during the scrum, 'It's our fault,'" Maddon said. "I don't want us to take a page out of 'Major League' (the movie) and flamboyantly flip a bat after a long home run. I don't want that at all."

Maddon also addressed fans watching back in Chicago.

"That doesn't play," he said. "Don't do that. That's not cool."

Lake concurred with that thought.

"I don't want to create a bad influence for people following the game," he said.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.