The Cubs and Reds added another chapter to their rivalry with a chaotic finish at Wrigley. Tied in the bottom of the ninth, the Cubs drew two straight walks, then loaded the bases when a pitch hit the batter in the elbow. With one out, the Reds pulled pitcher Heath Hembree and handed the mess to Amir Garrett, who has a long history of jawing with Cubs players, especially Javy Báez. Báez, nursing a sore heel and coming off the bench to pinch hit, knew he wouldn’t need to run much. The Reds brought in a fifth infielder, but all Báez had to do was lift the ball in the air.
Garrett threw one pitch. Báez popped it up to the outfield for a sac fly, gave a shout right away, then tossed his bat and mimicked sweeping, mocking Garrett’s broom celebration from earlier in the season. Garrett stayed calm but clearly wasn’t thrilled. Báez’s celebration looked excessive for a sac fly, but with so much built-up tension between him and Garrett, it felt personal. The Cubs took game one, though the Reds came back to win the next two and take the series. Still, Báez got his moment, sweeping the Reds metaphorically if not in the standings.