Cubs' Baez pulls off wild base-stealing feat in epic Pirates blunder
Web Take a bow, Pirates infield
May 28, 2021 at 12:31 pm ET • 1 min read
In a moment that will go down in baseball history, Cubs shortstop Javy Baez pulled off one of the craziest baserunning plays you'll ever see.
With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, Baez hit a ground ball to Pirates shortstop Erik Gonzalez. Gonzalez fielded the ball and threw to second base for the force out, but Baez kept running. Pirates second baseman Adam Frazier then bobbled the throw, allowing Baez to reach third base. Pirates catcher Jacob Stallings then threw the ball into left field, allowing Baez to score the winning run.
According to Statcast, it took Baez 15.54 seconds to reach first base, which is the longest time to first on a stolen base in the Statcast era (since 2015). It is also the first time a Cubs player has stolen home in a postseason game since 1908.
The Pirates' infield defense was a major factor in Baez's incredible play. Gonzalez's errant throw to second base allowed Baez to reach third base, and Stallings' wild throw to left field allowed Baez to score the winning run.
Baez's stolen base will go down as one of the most memorable plays in Cubs history. It was a moment of brilliance that helped the Cubs win a crucial game in the NL Wild Card Series.
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