Joshua Báez’s Historic Debut Lifts Cardinals Over Cubs

CHICAGO (AP) — Joshua Báez made history by hitting three home runs in his first three major league at-bats, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to an 8-4 win over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. The 23-year-old, recently promoted from Triple-A Memphis, drove in five runs during the game.

Báez kicked off his major league career by sending the first pitch he faced into the bleachers at Wrigley Field. He continued his remarkable performance by homering in his next two at-bats. This achievement makes him the first St. Louis player since Lane Thomas in June 2019 to homer in his first career plate appearance.

Blaze Jordan and Alec Burleson contributed solo home runs, helping the Cardinals secure the win after losing the first game of the series. For the Cubs, Michael Conforto hit a three-run homer despite their nine wins in the previous 11 games.

Michael McGreevy improved his record to 5-9, allowing three unearned runs on five hits and two walks over the first six innings. He struck out six to earn his first win since July 8. Báez managed to connect for all three home runs against Matthew Boyd, who fell to an 8-2 record after allowing seven runs on five hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings.

Báez’s two-run homer in the first inning put the Cardinals ahead, but Conforto’s three-run shot tied it up in the second. Báez hit a solo homer in the fourth and capped his performance with a two-run homer in the sixth, taking the Cardinals to a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Jordan ended Boyd’s day with his home run, while Burleson added another off Colin Rea in the eighth.

The series concludes Sunday afternoon with Hunter Dobbins (2-3, 3.40 ERA) pitching for the Cardinals against Edward Cabrera (5-4, 5.10 ERA) of the Cubs. Cabrera makes his first start since suffering a left hamstring strain on June 23.