The St. Louis Cardinals’ Joshua Báez had a memorable major-league debut at Wrigley Field, hitting three home runs against the Chicago Cubs. This made him the first player in MLB history to hit three homers in his debut. The Cardinals defeated the Cubs 8-4 in the game.
In the first inning, Cubs starter Matthew Boyd faced Báez, intending to overpower him with a fastball. However, Báez hit a 449-foot two-run homer, putting the Cardinals ahead 3-0. His next at-bat in the fourth inning resulted in a 382-foot solo home run off a changeup, giving the Cardinals a 4-3 lead.
“I mean, he hit three different pitches for home runs,” said Cubs manager Craig Counsell after the game. “He had a great game. He beat us for sure.”
Báez’s historic third home run came during the sixth inning. Boyd attempted a slider, but Báez hit the pitch 368 feet, securing his place in the record books.
Though the Cubs managed to tie the game briefly, with Michael Conforto hitting a three-run homer in the second inning, Báez’s performance was pivotal. The 23-year-old had been called up from Triple-A Memphis, where he showcased strong skills with 34 home runs and 90 RBIs in 103 games.
“For me to not only get a hit but hit three home runs is just crazy,” Báez expressed after the game.
Boyd shared his thoughts on facing Báez, acknowledging that while they had strong scouting, he failed to execute effectively. Boyd noted that Báez capitalized on the missed pitches, turning potential mistakes into game-changing hits.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell left Boyd in the game until the sixth inning, aiming to extract more outs since Boyd’s outing hadn’t spiraled out of control. Nevertheless, Báez’s power and precision made the difference.
The Cardinals benefited from strategic walks earlier in the game, enhancing the impact of Báez’s homers. Boyd expressed the frustration of walks culminating in more damage.
“Obviously the two walks scored and having a runner on base, really, from those walks in both those circumstances makes it more damage, right?” Boyd said.
This performance etched Báez’s name into baseball history, highlighting his potential and marking an unforgettable debut.
Andy Martinez contributed to the Chicago Tribune.
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