Joshua Báez first player to homer in first 3 at-bats in the majors, leads Cardinals past Cubs 8-4

Joshua Báez first player to homer in first 3 at-bats in the majors, leads Cardinals past Cubs 8-4 1 of 4 | St. Louis Cardinals’ Joshua Baez (22) celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a Baseball game against the Chicago-cubs" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="16051" data-entity-type="organization">Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty) 2 of 4 | St. Louis Cardinals’ Joshua Baez (22) celebrates with teammate Alec Burleson, left, after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a Baseball game against the Chicago-cubs" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="16051" data-entity-type="organization">Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty) 3 of 4 | St. Louis Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy delivers a pitch during the first inning of a Baseball game against the Chicago-cubs" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="16051" data-entity-type="organization">Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty) 4 of 4 | St. Louis Cardinals’ Joshua Baez celebrates after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning of a Baseball game against the Chicago-cubs" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="16051" data-entity-type="organization">Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty) 1 of 4 | St. Louis Cardinals’ Joshua Baez (22) celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a Baseball game against the Chicago-cubs" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="16051" data-entity-type="organization">Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty) 1 of 4 St. Louis Cardinals’ Joshua Baez (22) celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a Baseball game against the Chicago-cubs" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="16051" data-entity-type="organization">Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 2 of 4 | St. Louis Cardinals’ Joshua Baez (22) celebrates with teammate Alec Burleson, left, after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a Baseball game against the Chicago-cubs" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="16051" data-entity-type="organization">Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty) 2 of 4 St. Louis Cardinals’ Joshua Baez (22) celebrates with teammate Alec Burleson, left, after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a Baseball game against the Chicago-cubs" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="16051" data-entity-type="organization">Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 3 of 4 | St. Louis Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy delivers a pitch during the first inning of a Baseball game against the Chicago-cubs" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="16051" data-entity-type="organization">Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty) 3 of 4 St. Louis Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy delivers a pitch during the first inning of a Baseball game against the Chicago-cubs" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="16051" data-entity-type="organization">Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 4 of 4 | St. Louis Cardinals’ Joshua Baez celebrates after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning of a Baseball game against the Chicago-cubs" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="16051" data-entity-type="organization">Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty) 4 of 4 St. Louis Cardinals’ Joshua Baez celebrates after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning of a Baseball game against the Chicago-cubs" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="16051" data-entity-type="organization">Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Chicago (AP) — Joshua Báez became the first player to hit three home runs in his first three at-bats in the major leagues, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to an 8-4 victory over the Chicago-cubs" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="16051" data-entity-type="organization">Chicago Cubs on Saturday.The 23-year-old left fielder, called up from Triple-A Memphis earlier in the day, hit the first pitch he saw into the Wrigley Field bleachers, then homered in his next two at-bats. He also drove in five runs.Blaze Jordan and Alec Burleson added solo home runs to help the Cardinals win a day after dropping the opener of the three-game series.Báez is the first St. Louis player to homer in his first career plate appearance since Lane Thomas in June 2019.Michael Conforto hit a three-run homer for the Cubs, who had won nine of 11.Michael McGreevy (5-9) allowed three runs — all unearned — on five hits and two walks while striking out six in the first six innings to win for the first time since July 8. Báez tagged Matthew Boyd (8-2) for all three homers. He drove his first, a two-run shot, deep into the left-center field bleachers in the first inning.Conforto’s home run tied the game at 3-all in the second, but Báez led off the fourth and sent a full-count pitch down the left-field line, then went down the opposite side in the sixth for another two-run homer.Jordan’s home run was the end of day for Boyd, who allowed seven runs on five hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out two. Burleson homered off Colin Rea in the eighth. 1 MIN READ 1 MIN READ 1 MIN READ Up nextThe series ends Sunday afternoon when the Cardinals send Hunter Dobbins (2-3, 3.40 ERA) against fellow right-hander Edward Cabrera (5-4, 5.10). Cabrera (left hamstring strain) will be making his first start since June 23.___See AP’s full MLB coverage here