Cardinals’ Joshua Báez Hits Historic Trio of Homers in Win Over Cubs

Joshua Báez made a memorable debut by hitting three home runs in his first three at-bats for the St. Louis Cardinals, leading them to an 8-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.

The 23-year-old left fielder was called up from Triple-A Memphis earlier in the day. He launched the first pitch he encountered into the bleachers at Wrigley Field and followed with homers in his next two plate appearances. Báez ended the game with five runs batted in.

Teammates Blaze Jordan and Alec Burleson contributed with solo home runs, helping the Cardinals to bounce back after losing the series opener.

Báez’s impressive start makes him the first Cardinal to homer in his debut plate appearance since Lane Thomas did so in June 2019.

Michael Conforto delivered a three-run homer for the Cubs, who had been victorious in nine of their last eleven games.

Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy improved to a record of 5-9. He pitched six innings, allowing three unearned runs on five hits, and two walks while striking out six batters. This marked McGreevy’s first win since July 8.

Báez hit his first two-run home run off Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd, sending it deep into the bleachers in the first inning. Conforto’s homer tied the game at three runs in the second inning. When Báez led off the fourth inning, he blasted a full-count pitch down the left-field line and continued with another two-run homer in the sixth.

Jordan’s home run marked the end of Boyd’s time on the mound, after allowing seven runs on five hits and three walks over 5 1/3 innings, with two strikeouts. Burleson added to the Cardinal’s score with a home run off Colin Rea in the eighth inning.

The series concludes Sunday with Cardinals’ Hunter Dobbins (2-3, 3.40 ERA) scheduled to face Cubs’ Edward Cabrera (5-4, 5.10 ERA). Cabrera is expected to return to the mound for the first time since June 23 after recovering from a left hamstring strain.