WATCH: Baez helps Cubs pull off clutch double play to stay alive |
PITTSBURGH — Making a heads-up play to spark a clutch double play, Chicago Cubs second baseman made a backhanded stop of a hard-hit grounder that helped the Cubs escape a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth.
With the game tied at 1-1, the Pittsburgh Pirates had the bases loaded with one out when Corey Dickerson hit a screamer toward Baez. Sporting a five-man infield in the critical situation, the Cubs were able to turn two to escape the tough spot. After Baez corralled the screamer, he pitched to right fielder Ben Zobrist at second base, who stepped onto the bag and gunned a throw over to first baseman Anthony Rizzo to complete the rare 4-9-3 double play to usher in extra innings. If not for Baez's quick decision to make an underhanded pitch to Zobrist, rather than attempting to run over and tag second base himself, Dickerson would have likely beat out the throw at first. Baez utilized the five-man formation on the infield to perfection and gave his club new life, as a result. Beautiful turn by the *squints at box score* right fielder. pic.twitter.com/6C6VyOo8Hg
