CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 01: Jason Heyward #22 of the Chicago Cubs throws his batting after striking out against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fifth inning at Wrigley Field on June 1, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
Jason Heyward showed off his Gold Glove skills and Javier Baez made a spectacular catch of his own to back right-hander Kyle Hendricks in the Chicago Cubs‘ 6-2 home victory over the New York Mets on Wednesday.
With two outs in the fourth inning, James Loney and Travis d’Arnaud both singled off Hendricks. Loney attempted to score on Kelly Johnson’s single to center, but he was called out at home as Heyward launched a fastball to catcher Miguel Montero.
“First and second with Johnson up, he hit it hard to center,” Hendricks said. “I knew J-Hey was out there, so I thought we had a chance, especially with Loney running. He came up gunning, and I was behind the plate and it was right on line. That’s what he does. He’s one of the best in the game at it. He’s one of the best outfielders in the game defensively. That was a bullet.”
Cubs manager Joe Maddon watched the play from the dugout and noticed how Montero reacted.
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“That’s a great play by Miggy on the tag — that’s a tweener hop, a bad hop, and he got himself in position and made the play,” Maddon said.
It was Heyward’s 17th start in center field. The right fielder has been filling in for Dexter Fowler, who is on the disabled list but expected to return this weekend.
Heyward’s throw was tossed at 98.9 mph, which is the fastest throw the 26-year-old has registered in the Statcast™ era (2015-16). His previous strongest toss on an outfield assist came on June 7, 2015, when he threw a 98.5-mph strike to nab Dodgers right fielder Andre Ethier at home plate.
Baez, who was playing second base, chased down Juan Lagares’ popup in foul territory for the first out in the seventh. Baez ran into the rolled-up tarp along the first-base side, and somehow snagged the ball.
“How about the catch that Javy made?” Maddon said. “[First baseman Anthony Rizzo] kind of misread that somehow, and all of a sudden you see a blur going toward the stands. That’s a spectacular play. The ball’s coming off the stands, it’s moving, it’s not just a popup.”
Rizzo has jumped on the tarp at least twice to make catches.
“That was a great play,” Rizzo said. “It’s a good thing [Baez] didn’t collapse and go forward, because his head was going right into the brick wall and the wall would’ve won.”
After a day off on Thursday, the Cubs (57-37, 1st in NL Central) will next begin a three-game road series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night. Right-hander Jason Hammel will start for Chicago, coming off a win over the Texas Rangers in which he allowed one run on three hits over six innings.
Meanwhile, the Mets (50-44, 3rd in NL East) will also benefit from a day of rest on Thursday before opening a three-game series with the Marlins in Miami on Friday night. Right-hander Logan Verrett will take the mound opposite lefty Adam Conley.
CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 01: Jason Heyward #22 of the Chicago Cubs throws his batting after striking out against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fifth inning at Wrigley Field on June 1, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
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