Being that the Cubs won yesterday’s game by a single run, I would venture to say that outs recorded at the plate carried a particular weight. And the Cubs had two of them in the final two innings of the game!
First, Javy Baez – playing back at second base – got a bouncer that probably should have scored Travis Jankowski from third base, but Baez’s instincts, quickness, and arm combined to nail him with relative ease:
Báezball. pic.twitter.com/Qehiz4tL9w
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 3, 2018
Then, in the 9th inning, with the Padres threatening to come back, David Bote got a chopper at third base – the kind with absolutely no margin for error if you’re going to try to make a play at the plate – and he executed perfectly:
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Bote has shown himself to be very good with the glove, making his utility work all the more valuable for the Cubs this year.
Also, bonus love to Victor Caratini for completing the play in both instances. As we’ve seen from innumerable replays, even when the throw beats the runner, that’s no guarantee of an out.