On This Day in 2016: Javy Báez calls basket in NLDS Game 1
Five years ago, the Cubs embarked on a historic journey that will go down as one of the most impactful seasons in professional sports.
Throughout 2021, we’re taking a look back at some of the best moments from the incredible 2016 campaign.
Next up: NLDS Game 1 – Javy called basket!
On a 58-degree postseason night at Wrigley Field, Jon Lester and David Ross controlled the game.
Lester, making his 1st postseason start at Wrigley Field, was dominant going 8 innings, striking out 5 and holding the Giants scoreless. He couldn’t have held the Giants scoreless without the help of David Ross.
In the 1st inning Ross nailed Gorkys Hernández as he attempted to steal second off Jon Lester. Then in the 3rd inning, with Anthony Rizzo playing 2nd base and Javy Báez playing 1st (you read that right), Ross picked off Conor Gillaspie on a well-executed pitchout. This all set the stage for El Mago.
Javy Báez crushed a 3-2 pitch from Johnny Cueto — 107.4 MPH exit velocity — into the left field basket in the 8th inning to give the Cubs the only run they needed.
Buster Posey doubled off the left field wall with 2-outs in the 9th, but Aroldis Chapman got Hunter Pence to groundout to 2nd base for the final out.
After the game, Posey said Báez didn’t hit the ball as hard as he thought “based on the way he reacted to it.”
Posey thought he hit HR off Chapman. And he said Baez didn’t hit his as hard as he thought, “based on the way he reacted to it.” Subtle dig.
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) October 8, 2016
Javy responded in the only way he had to.
It still went out. #JB9
— Javier Báez (@javy23baez) October 8, 2016
Fun Facts
- This was Lester’s longest career postseason start
- The Cubs only recorded 3 hits off Cueto, 2 of them belonging to Báez
- With Lester & Cueto both dealing, Game 1 was a speedy 2 hours and 30 minutes