WATCH: Ian Happ discusses epic home run, how Triple-A experience helped him |
CHICAGO — Despite not entering the game until the bottom of the seventh, Chicago Cubs outfielder
Ian Happ experienced arguably his most impactful performance since he was called up by the Cubs last month on Monday night. With a monstrous 474-foot go-ahead home run and a game-ending catch on the warning track, Happ was at the center of the Cubs' dramatic 6-5 victory over the Oakland Athletics.
Happ's epic solo jack came in a leadoff pinch-hit appearance that started off the bottom of the seventh. The solo bomb, which was the longest homer hit by a Cub this season, carried out onto Sheffield Avenue and put the Cubs up 3-2. When speaking with Cubs broadcasters Jim Deshaies and Len Kasper following the game, Happ discussed the dinger and what he was looking for on the full-count pitch that led to it. "When I got to 3-2, I was just trying to make sure that it was in the zone," Happ said. "I was able to get the barrel on it." A 474’ pinch-hit home run from @ihapp_1! #EverybodyIn pic.twitter.com/jtT4N69rj3 As fate would have it, Happ sealed the hard-fought victory by catching a towering fly ball hit to deep left field that initially seemed like it could have been a 3-run homer. Happ was relieved after making the catch, as he put his hands on top of his head once he corralled the game-ending catch, which was prevented from sailing into the seats by the wind blowing in at the Friendly Confines. Having spent the vast majority of the season in Triple-A, Happ essentially ingratiated himself to Cubs fans again on Monday, and he spoke with Deshaies Kasper about how his Triple-A tenure helped him. "It just made me believe in myself," Hap said. "It made me have the confidence in myself to come back here and contribute to this ball club." HOLY COW #CUBS WIN!! WAS HOME RUN DERBY FOLKS! 4 HOMERS, 1 by #DOUBLINNICKY then 2 by #Elmago then Happy Happ his 1st! Plus #Professor taught sweet 1H outing! 4 STRAIGHT FOLKS! OH... plus #DirtyBirds being shut out right now. Well...SING IT! #GOCUBSGO #FLYTHEW #ITSAWRIGLEYTHING pic.twitter.com/OpNuKZlvPN
