Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Ildemaro Vargas hit a popup to shallow right field with one out in the sixth inning on Sunday, a routine play in most situations on most days.
But the wind at Wrigley Field, which was blowing out, carried the ball. Throw in that Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner was covering second base as Diamondbacks right fielder Corbin Carroll attempted to swipe the bag, and that 90-foot popup, per Statcast, became a worrisome moment.
“I saw the ball go up and I was like ‘Nobody’s going to get it?’” Cubs catcher Carson Kelly said after the Cubs’ 8-4 win on Sunday, their fifth straight and 11th consecutive at home.
Hoerner darted from second base to shallow right field, running a J-shaped route to catch the ball. He was able to fake Carroll out enough that the speedy outfielder hesitated to run back to first. The Cubs’ Gold Glove Award-winning second baseman caught the ball, spun, jumped and then threw to Michael Busch at first base to complete the inning-ending double play.
Per Statcast, Hoerner needed 42 feet to catch the ball that had a .000 expected batting average, but he ended up travelling 87 feet as it hung for 4.9 seconds.
“I feel like popups at Wrigley are kind of a funky thing in general and have some weirdness to ’em,” Hoerner said after the win. “I was covering on the play and didn’t do a crazy deke or anything, but enough where I feel like he didn’t know where the ball was, and fortunately, I was able to go get it and find some outs.”
The play highlighted the value of Hoerner, who had exited Friday’s win early with neck tightness, was kept out of Saturday’s win and returned to the lineup on Sunday. He is one of three reigning Gold Glove Award winners — left fielder Ian Happ and center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, the others — of a group that won the National League team Gold Glove Award.
Kelly had the best vantage point as the play developed.
“I was like that was incredible, just the thought process of it,” said the catcher, who finished 2-for-4 with two RBI in the win. “I think it’s amazing on this team, every single day, you never know, something incredible might happen. I think that’s what makes this team so exciting.”
The defensive play stole a pair of outs for starter Matthew Boyd, allowing him to turn in his first quality start of the year as the Cubs swept the series. The Cubs’ opening-day starter exited with a four-run lead and turned the ball over to the bullpen, who welcomed back closer Daniel Palencia before the game. The flame-throwing right-hander was activated off the 15-day injured list before the game, with the Cubs designating right-hander Yacksel Ríos for assignment.
The Cubs’ lineup, though, added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh, meaning Counsell didn’t have to use Palencia in the win. The offense took advantage of the hitter-friendly environment on Sunday.
They had a baserunner in seven of their eight offensive innings, collecting 12 hits and drawing six walks.
“I think this is a good example of how we’ve been playing offense for a good chunk of the year and just a lot of pressure innings, and that just makes it hard on the pitcher,” Counsell said after the win. “You got to keep making big pitches, big pitches.”
Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly couldn’t make enough of those.
The Cubs loaded the bases in the fifth inning thanks to their emphasis on the smaller moments of the game. Alex Bregman hit a ground ball to 10-time Gold Glove Award-winner Nolan Arenado at third base with runners at first and second and no outs. Cubs designated hitter Moisés Ballesteros, who is in the bottom four percent of sprint speed, per Statcast, took a big secondary lead on the play and beat out Arenado’s throw to second, giving the Cubs an extra out.
Two batters later, Busch hit a bases-clearing triple down the right field line that made it 6-2. Ballesteros had given the Cubs the lead in the third with a two-run home run to left field.
“It doesn’t matter how fast a runner you are; you can still take a great secondary and get there as fast as you can,” Counsell said. “I think we’ve stressed that to (Ballesteros). I think that’s important to (Ballesteros), and (he’s) had some pretty good examples of it and that’s another one.”
It’s the first time the Cubs have won 11 straight home games since 2008, when they won 14.
The Cubs will look to ride their hot streak on Monday when they play just their second divisional series of the year against the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds are on a three-game losing streak, but have been one of the surprises in an NL Central where all five teams have a winning record.
“You play well today, (it) doesn’t guarantee you anything tomorrow. You got to keep doing it,” Counsell said. “You got to be ready for the long haul in this thing. We are playing good baseball. But there’s nothing promised tomorrow, you got to come out and beat a good team tomorrow.”
Andy Martinez is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
