Inside-the-park home runs alley. pic.twitter.com/MBHAJtN5Ib
— Cut4 (@Cut4) August 8, 2017
SAN FRANCISCO–It didn’t take long for Javier Baez to make his mark back at AT&T Park.
Baez got the sizable Cubs’ crowd at AT&T pumped up early when he smacked a two-run inside-the-park home run off of Matt Moore in the top of the second inning.
Baez launched Moore’s delivery deep to Triples’ Alley, a sure-fire home run in any other ballpark. But the layout of AT&T forced Baez to work for his keep, as it banged off the wall and rolled down the warning track to right field.
Carlos Moncrief, who was making his first career start in right field at AT&T, misplayed the carom off the wall as Baez dashed around the bases. He fired a one-hopper to the plate, one of the strongest throws to the plate this year, but it wasn’t enough for the speed of Baez who beat the throw by inches.
It was the first career inside-the-parker by Baez and his 16th home run on the year, marking the first inside-the-park home run for the Cubs since Anthony Rizzo accomplished the feat in Cincinnati on June 29, 2016. It was the first inside-the-park home run at AT&T Park since Kelby Tomlinson hit one on October 3, 2015.
Baez’s homer was the fourth ever inside-the-park home run by a visiting player and the 10th ever at AT&T.
