Official Site of the Cubs · Aug 17, 2018
Baez's slick tag thwarts Marte's steal attempt
Contreras, Baez nab Marte PITTSBURGH -- Javier Baez continues to make the improbable seem routine.
With two outs in the sixth inning and the Cubs leading, 1-0, speedy Pirates outfielder Starling Marte took off from first on an 0-1 pitch from Jon Lester. Catcher Willson Contreras caught the ball, popped up and fired an 85.1 mph throw to Baez in an attempt to nab Marte at second base.
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Falling to one knee, Baez fielded the throw and, in one fluid motion, swiped his glove on Marte for the inning-ending caught stealing.
Contreras clocked a pop time of 1.86 seconds, marking his second-fastest pop time on a caught stealing in 2018.