Slated for MRI, injured Baez comes off bench to hit winner

Javier Baez went from fingers crossed to walking off.

Hours after Joe Maddon left his star shortstop out of the lineup and said he would undergo an MRI exam, the Chicago Cubs manager called on Baez to pinch hit in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded, one out and the score tied 2-2 with the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field on Tuesday night.

And Baez delivered, sending the first pitch he saw from Phillies reliever Juan Nicasio into right field to plate Anthony Rizzo and send the Cubs home winners.

Before the game, Maddon told reporters Baez kept saying the heel hurt while sitting out Monday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

"He keeps using the word sore," Maddon said. "I just want to make sure that's all it is."

Baez suffered the injury during Sunday's game against the Washington Nationals while fielding a ball in the third inning. He departed in the sixth inning.

"I didn't twist it or anything," Baez said to reporters after the game. "I just went too hard to the ground and my heel kind of got jammed a little bit. ... All the time I was running it didn't bother me. When I got to the dugout it was kind of pumping a little bit."

--Field Level Media