Baez joined Ernie Banks (512 homers) and Shawon Dunston (107) as the only Cubs shortstops (minimum 50 games defensively) to hit at least 100 home runs.
Javier Baez saved the weekend and savored the moment.
As his go-ahead, three-run home run – the 100th blast of his career – sailed toward the right-field bleachers, Baez gripped his bat and enjoyed the view for an extra second. Or two. Or three.
Eventually, Baez jogged around the bases as fans and teammates celebrated his latest magic trick.
“We’ve seen it before, right?” Joe Maddon said with a smile.
The Cubs held on for a 5-3 win over the Mets to salvage a split in the four-game series. They were in danger of dropping their third straight game at home before Baez came through with two on and one out in the eighth.
Baez fell behind 0-2 in the count against Mets reliever Seth Lugo. He protected the plate – and then some – as he ripped the next pitch an estimated 374 feet to the opposite field.
Teammates mobbed Baez when he returned to the dugout, ripping his jersey as the crowd demanded a curtain call.
“I was just really excited,” Baez said. “Everybody (was) jumping around and grabbing me. It was really fun. I was really tired after that.”
It was Baez’s 19th home run of the season, which is tied for the team lead with Anthony Rizzo, and gave him 100 homers in 602 career games. He joined Ernie Banks (512 homers) and Shawon Dunston (107) as the only Cubs shortstops (minimum 50 games defensively) to hit at least 100 home runs.
The 26-year-old Baez put the milestone in perspective.
“I feel great,” Baez said. “That’s a lot of homers for me. I actually didn’t know until I got to the dugout and everybody started congratulating me. It’s really exciting. I thought it was going to be a little bit later in my career.
“I’m really happy that I got to it, and hopefully I can keep it going.”
The Cubs also hope to build upon the feel-good finish. They will enter a four-game series against the Braves with a refreshed bullpen thanks to a quality start by Cole Hamels, who held the Mets to three runs in seven innings.
Steve Cishek (2-4) pitched a scoreless eighth to get the win, and Pedro Strop finished things off for his ninth save.
It was the fourth time this season that the Cubs pulled out a victory despite trailing going into the eighth.
“That’s just the momentum that we need to take forth, especially with the series that’s coming up,” Hamels said.
Maddon wants to find a rest day soon for Baez, but it will be tough to keep him out of the lineup after Sunday’s heroics.
Baez struck out in each of his first two at-bats but quickly got over his frustrations and refocused. He singled in the sixth and jumped on a hanging pitch from Lugo for the decisive moment. His nine game-winning RBIs lead the team.
“It’s no different, what you perceive to be a big moment or not a big moment, he plays it the same way,” Maddon said. “His heart doesn’t race any faster. I think the difference may be a little bit more focus. I would say it’s more mental than it is physical. He gets really locked in.
“But the point is he plays the same game all the time. I don’t see any difference in his game. If it’s flamboyant or however you want to describe it, he’s just out there being himself.”
For that, the Cubs are grateful.
“It’s pretty spectacular being his teammate,” Hamels said.
Added Strop: “This guy can do it all.”
Baez said anyone could be the hero on any day.
“We don’t give up,” he said. “We keep fighting until the last out.”
