Watch: Baez belts dramatic game-winning HR off Cueto
It took the Chicago Cubs more than seven innings to put a dent in the armor of San Francisco Giants right-hander Johnny Cueto during Game 1 of Friday's NLDS, but Javier Baez found a way to get a run on the board.
The Cubs second baseman hammered a 3-2 fastball from the Giants hurler high into the Chicago sky to give his club a 1-0 lead, eventual Game 1 win, and send Wrigley Field into a frenzy with an equally dramatic bat drop.
Baez's home run, which initially looked like it was easily going to travel out of the ballpark, landed in the netting just above the ivy in left field, keeping the souvenir from drooling Cubs fans in the stands.
"I forgot about the wind," Baez said. "The wind's blowing straight in, and I hit it really good. Good thing it just barely went."
Prior to the home run, Cueto had allowed just two hits in the contest.
Baez's homer backed eight shutout innings from Cubs lefty Jon Lester, who retired his final 13 batters while limiting the Giants to just five hits and no walks with five strikeouts.
The eighth-inning dramatics spoiled an otherwise stellar outing from Cueto, who became the first pitcher in postseason history to strike out at least 10 batters, allow three hits or fewer, and issue no walks in a loss.
(Video courtesy: MLB.com)