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Baez, Heyward boost Cubs to 7-6 comeback win over Dodgers

Chicago Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward meant no disrespect to newspaper writers or readers when he talked about teammate Javier Baez after Wednesday night's 7-6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field.

"You can't read about Javy," said Heyward, who joined Baez in hitting 3-run homers in the bottom of the sixth inning to help rally the Cubs from a 3-0 deficit. "You can't read about him. That's why I feel like he's special. You've got to watch him. You've got to watch what he's doing. You've got to watch how he's thinking on the field.

"It's exciting, but he's always thinking ahead. He's always not giving up on a play, always trying to do what he can to win."

Here are some words to read about Javier Baez: He's the best shortstop on the Cubs. He's possibly the best shortstop in baseball. And he's a transformative player both on offense and defense.

So how in good conscience do the Cubs move him off his position when Addison Russell comes back from his suspension for violating Major League Baseball's policy on domestic violence?

They don't, or at least you read those words here.

Manager Joe Maddon said after the game that's for down the road.

"That's still a discussion we have to have," said Maddon, whose team is two games over .500 (12-10) for the first time this season. "We've got to wait and see how well Addison does. I don't want to make any kind of jump-the-gun kind of thing without discussing in detail with the players themselves. It's a great problem to have."

The Cubs trailed Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler 3-0 in the sixth. The Dodgers had just scored twice, on a 2-run homer by Cody Bellinger of Cubs starter Cole Hamels, who battled through 5⅓ innings, giving up 3 hits while walking six.

Baez woke up the crowd of 35,743 by yanking a slider from Buehler over the wall in left for a two-out, 3-run homer to tie the game. A few minutes later, Heyward lined an opposite-field homer to left, also good for 3 runs, off Scott Alexander.

Baez showed off his strong throwing arm - another edge he has over Russell - in the seventh, throwing out Joc Pederson from deep in the hole.

The Cubs got another in the seventh before the Dodgers scored 3 in the eighth against Steve Cishek. Pedro Strop nailed down this third save.

Hamels has seen a few exciting players in his time, but maybe not one quite like Baez.

"He's got the energy, and he's right up the middle," Hamels said. "You're always going to see him. You can't get away from him. And I think that's definitely what you like, knowing that he's either going to make plays in the field, plays running the basepaths or obviously hitting bit home runs when you need them.

"So he's a big catalyst in our lineup."

Lester to start series finale against Dodgers

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