There are plenty of players who almost hit for the cycle, but Cubs’ second baseman Ian Happ came closer than most Wednesday night. When Happ came up in the sixth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates, he already had a single, a double and a home run, and needed just a triple. He cranked a deep fly ball down the left-field line, and ran hard for third, but didn’t notice that the Pirates’ Sterling Marte managed to catch it in the corner:
.@ihapp_1 needed a triple for the cycle. He thought he got it. He didn't: https://t.co/jFlRYppAqH pic.twitter.com/QGKfTEjEQI
— Cut4 (@Cut4) August 31, 2017
Cubs’ manager Joe Maddon and Happ himself both commented on the play afterwards:
“I loved the faux triple down the left field line — that was outstanding,” Maddon told MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat after the game. “Good for him.”
And Happ’s take: “I hit it, I was hopeful, I got it pretty good, 355 down the line. It’s a little deep. I didn’t know if it was going to get to the wall. Guys get confused with the bricks sometimes. Marte tracked it down pretty easily. I didn’t see it. I had my head down. I looked at the umpire and he signaled fair and I kept going. I hit it and turned on the after burners, but for no reason.”
This worked out fine for Happ and his team, though. While he didn’t get the cycle (he came up again in the eighth inning, but made an out), he finished the night three-for-five with four RBIs and two runs scored. And the Cubs finished with a 17-3 win. Still, Happ’s basepath hustle here in an attempt to get the cycle was impressive, even if it didn’t lead to his desired result.
[Cut4]
