'That's why everyone calls him El Mago': Inside Ja...
Key takeaways
- With two outs in the top of the third inning and Chicago Cubs teammate Willson Contreras on second base, Baez hit a routine ground ball to third -- which should have ended the inning.
- The unexpected maneuver set off an improbable sequence that ended with Contreras scoring and Baez catching his breath on second base.
- I'm pretty good at tagging and not letting people tag me."
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
With two outs in the top of the third inning and Chicago Cubs teammate Willson Contreras on second base, Baez hit a routine ground ball to third -- which should have ended the inning. Instead, what ensued was pure "chaos" after Pirates first baseman Will Craig got pulled off the bag by the throw from third baseman Erik Gonzales. Rather than continuing to first as almost any other runner would have, Baez went backward, retreating toward home plate -- and drawing Craig with him.
The unexpected maneuver set off an improbable sequence that ended with Contreras scoring and Baez catching his breath on second base. Both dugouts, as well as the umpires, were in disbelief as Baez dusted himself off and mouthed, "I'm safe, right?"
"I didn't plan it," Baez said at the time. "It was a crazy play. ... Let's say I improvised. I'm pretty good at tagging and not letting people tag me."