After a torrid start to the season that still has him leading the National League in RBI, Javy Baez entered play on Sunday mired in a huge slump. He admitted on Saturday that he’s frustrated, and Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon had a talk with him.
But “El Mago” seems to have his magic back on Sunday.
The Cubs’ extremely fun infielder teamed up with Kyle Schwarber to hit back-to-back jacks in the top of the second inning against the Reds at Great American Ballpark. Schwarber hit a laser and Baez followed with a blast into the upper deck.
Baez had an even better highlight in the bottom of the fifth while playing shortstop, when he made a sliding stop on a groundball up the middle, tagged second base with his glove, and made a crazy throw to first base for the double play. The play looks even more ridiculous than it sounds:
Baez’s big day (3-for-4 overall at the plate too) helped lead the Cubs to a 6-1 victory to win the four-game series in Cincinnati.