Cubs’ Nico Hoerner shows off the hustle in one of the wildest plays of the year
Nico Hoerner provided a perfect example of why you should never take a play off Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field.
With two outs in the 3rd inning and Hoerner on first base, Cody Bellinger hit a towering flyball that seemed destined to end the inning.
All the while, Hoerner sprinted from first base, around second and was beginning to turn past third when the ball was nearing the ground. But Arizona shortstop Jordan Lawlar and second baseman Ketel Marte had a miscommunication, allowing the ball to drop between them. At that moment, Hoerner kept running and slid into home to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead. Hoerner went from first base to home plate in 10.4 seconds. The Cubs would drop the game 3-2 in extras.
“This place can be challenging on popups, especially on a day game with the wind and then the sun and no clouds for any coverage either,” Dansby Swanson said. “Just for him to have those instincts and trust him and just busted around is something that you obviously teach your kids and willing to show the minor league guys, doesn’t matter who it is, that’s how you play and one of the reasons we play hard is guys like him.”
Hoerner reached base by showing off his hustle, too.
With one out in the frame, he laid down a perfect bunt down the third base line as Emmanuel Rivera was playing back a bit. Hoerner reached first without a throw.
It was Hoerner’s team-leading 88th run and Bellinger’s club-leading 86th RBI. On Wednesday, Hoerner was named the Cubs’ recipient of the Heart and Hustle Award.
“That was great. Not taking anything for granted when you have that homefield,” manager David Ross said. “You play here enough, you realize how crazy it is. He plays that position, so he knows how bad the wind is, the sun going up there, they struggled on some of those.
Check out the play in the video above.