Heel of fortune: Javy Baez tapes up and delivers Cubs’ game-winner

Baez hadn’t played since Sunday because of a bruised right heel until coming off the bench in Tuesday’s ninth to beat the Phillies.

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Philadelphia Phillies v Chicago Cubs

Javy Baez gets doused by teammates moments after his limp-to-the-plate drama in the inning that culminated with the game-winning pinch hit.

Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Cubs shortstop Javy Baez was out of the lineup again Tuesday because of a sore right heel, after having a precautionary MRI earlier in the day.

But it didn’t keep him from becoming the hero of the game in the bottom of the ninth – coming off the bench to drive the first pitch he saw past first base, through the drawn-in infield for a walk-off hit in a 3-2 victory over the Phillies at Wrigley Field.

After which one intrepid reporter actually asked: “What were the results [of the MRI]?”

“It ain’t broken,” said one rival scribe.

Baez’s second career walk-off hit – and team-leading ninth go-ahead RBI of the season – capped a two-run rally in the ninth in the battle of division leaders.

“I don’t know too many people who could do that,” said teammate Kris Bryant, who opened the ninth with a walk.

Manager Joe Maddon said he wasn’t certain what he could have done defensively with Baez had the Cubs gone to extra innings, and he won’t know until Wednesday afternoon what Baez’s status is for starting their next game.

For now, the manager said, “give the trainer some credit” for taping Baez’s foot and ankle late in the game to help make last year’s MVP runner-up ready to swing a bat – if not run especially well.

“This is right out of the Lombardi Era type stuff,” Maddon said. “He hadn’t played in a couple days, but he didn’t miss it. It’s just fitting.”

After blowing leads each of the first two games of this series – including in Monday’s loss – the Cubs came back this time, despite leaving 15 men on base and going 0-for-10 with men in scoring position until Baez’s game-ender.

A game-time forecast about 25 degrees warmer on Wednesday might help the case for Baez to return to the lineup. Tuesday’s decision to sit him was made while talking to Baez in the dugout during Monday night’s game, Maddon said.

“Just said it was probably wise not to play today,” Maddon said. “He just keeps using the word ‘sore,’ and I just want to make that’s all it is.”

Baez hadn’t played since Sunday’s sixth inning, when he eventually was forced to leave the game almost three innings after injuring his heel while charging a slow chopper and throwing off-balance for the out.

He had started every game for the Cubs until Monday.

‘Untaggable Man’

Bryant, once dubbed the “Untaggable Man” by a rival scout during his rookie year for his base-running exploits, showed off that element of his game twice to help set the stage for Baez’s late-game heroics.

Bryant scored the game’s first run in the first when, running on a 3-2 pitch with one out, he scored from second on Willson Contreras’ groundout to short.

“As a shortstop or infielder, when you see that, you kind of just assume [the runners in motion] are going to advance a base and stop there,” Bryant said. “I’m like, `Well, I’m just going to keep going here because I kind of know what that’s like.

“It’s probably one of my favorite base running plays I’ve done.”

Bryant scored the first run of the ninth from third on a one-out tapper with the bases loaded that pitcher Juan Nicasio couldn’t flip to the plate quickly enough to get the force.

“He’s a tremendous base runner,” Maddon said.

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