Hoerner gets creative in the clutch
PHOENIX — Even Nico Hoerner wasn’t sure how he got on top of a fastball practically shoulder-high to send a line-drive single into right field and drive in the winning run.
“I feel like I haven’t been up in some really big, exciting spots like that in a little while,” he said after the Cubs’ 3-2, 11-inning victory Monday night against the Diamondbacks. “The game is so interesting how you can’t force those situations, and you only can do what the game presents you. And so it was awesome to have that opportunity right there. And maybe not a recommended pitch selection, but we’ll take it.”
With the bases loaded in the 11th, Hoerner, in a 1-2 count, fouled off two pitches to keep the at-bat alive. Then he somehow got a hold of a fastball that was higher than the firstpitch that he’d watched to begin the at-bat.
“Something good should happen to Nico because he’s been on the wrong end of some really bad luck right now,” manager Craig Counsell said of Hoerner, whose .208 batting average entering Tuesday didn’t capture the number of times he’d made solid contact with no payoff. “So, I’m glad he was in that spot. And that’s the at-bat where the ball needs to be in play, and he’s going to put it in play.”
Hoerner’s fingerprints were all over the Cubs’ third win in a row. On defense, he made a diving catch to end the sixth inning. And on the basepaths, he created a run practically out of thin air in the ninth.
The Cubs were trailing 2-1, and their only run had been a solo homer from Michael Busch, who extended his home-run streak to a franchise record-tying five games.
Hoerner stood on second base and Mike Tauchman on first, with two outs. Diamondbacks closer Kevin Ginkel bounced a slider, and it got away from Gold Glove catcher Gabriel
Moreno. As Moreno searched for the ball, Hoerner was closing in on third base.
“I have a very lasting image of [third-base coach] Willie Harris just screaming and pointing home,” Hoerner said. “And I’d like to think I would have gone anyways, but that definitely gave me the extra confidence I needed.”
Hoerner dove across home plate headfirst. And after he was called safe, he jogged back toward the Cubs’ dugout with his arms outstretched like an airplane.
The Diamondbacks challenged the safe call, but a replay review upheld it.
Suzuki sidelined four weeks
Imaging on outfielder Seiya Suzuki’s strained right oblique suggested about a four-week recovery timeline, Counsell said Tuesday. The Cubs, though, will have a better estimate as he goes through the steps of feeling symptom-free and starting baseball activities.
Taillon lined up for Thursday
Right-hander Jameson Taillon (strained back) is lined up to be activated to start Thursday against the Marlins, with five days between starts. The Cubs, though, have yet to name him as the probable starter.
“The injury that happened, I was only down from throwing for three or four days,” Taillon said.
“But it was just at that pivotal time of spring to build up, so it took a little longer than I had initially hoped . . . . I’m really happy with where we’re at.”