There’s a certain point at which you stop even trying to explain how something works and just chalk it up to actual magic. That was what happened Monday afternoon when Javy Báez served an 0-2 curveball into shallow left for an RBI single, though no mere description could come close to doing it justice because the human mind isn’t capable of accepting it as truth.
With the Cubs already up 4-0 after the first of shortstop Kevin Newman’s three errors in the inning opened the door, Pirates starter Jameson Taillon was up 0-2 on Javy. One more strike would have done it.