The Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday afternoon thanks to, among other things, a brilliant day in left field by Ian Happ. Dude was all over the place making catches, and that included an incredible diving catch on a ball that was moving away from him and would have spelled trouble with two outs in the 9th inning. But Happ made the catch and the Cubs won the game.
Yesterday, Javy Baez did not start, so he couldn’t fill up the highlight reel like Happ did the day before, but he certain did take one cue from the left fielder: when Baez entered as a defensive replacement in the 9th, he decided to end the game with a brilliant catch of his own:
HIT MY MUSIC. pic.twitter.com/524mOpclpy
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) June 9, 2018
As long as his knee isn’t too sore today, then everything about that catch was awesome. I really think those kinds of catches where you have to track a ball to a spot while also monitoring your proximity to a barrier are among the toughest in the game. You see so many guys – understandably! – alligator arm it, kinda sorta reaching for the ball, but mostly thinking, “Nah, I’m not gonna get that.”
Baez has never been that guy, though, so he’s calling for that one practically the second it leaves the bat. Cubs win, Cubs win, Cubs win.
Cubs shutout #Pirates on Jon Lester and Friends one hitter, great defense all day and JAVY BAEZ to finish it off! @Cubs @BleacherNation @realcubsinsider @javy23baez pic.twitter.com/XjJdizJH0O
— MBDChicago (@MBDChicago) June 9, 2018