Joshua Báez Makes History with Three Home Runs in Debut Game

Joshua Báez made his major league debut with a stunning performance, hitting three home runs in his first three at-bats, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to an 8-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Báez, a 23-year-old left fielder, was called up from Triple-A Memphis earlier on Saturday.

In his first at-bat, Báez launched the first pitch he saw into the bleachers. He followed up with home runs in his next two appearances, driving in five runs in total. His achievement marks the first time a St. Louis player has homered in their first career plate appearance since Lane Thomas did so in June 2019.

Additional support came from Blaze Jordan and Alec Burleson, who each added solo home runs, helping the Cardinals recover after losing the series opener. Michael Conforto hit a three-run homer for the Cubs, who had previously won nine of their last eleven games.

Cardinals’ pitcher Michael McGreevy secured his first win since July 8 after allowing three unearned runs on five hits and two walks, striking out six in six innings. He faced Matthew Boyd, who was tagged by Báez for all three of his home runs. Boyd allowed seven runs on five hits and three walks over 5 1/3 innings.

Conforto’s home run briefly tied the game at 3-all in the second inning, but Báez regained the lead for the Cardinals by hitting a home run in the fourth inning and another two-run shot in the sixth. Jordan’s homer concluded Boyd’s day on the mound, and Burleson added his home run off Colin Rea in the eighth inning.

The series will conclude on Sunday afternoon, with the Cardinals sending Hunter Dobbins to face the Cubs’ Edward Cabrera. Cabrera will return to the mound for his first start since recovering from a left hamstring strain.