Aug 3, 2018 4 min read

He’s already an All-Star, but Javier Baez keeps finding ways to shine even brighter.

Baez tied his career high with his 23rd homer and took over the National League lead with 84 RBIs, helping the Chicago Cubs defeat the San Diego Padres 5-4 on Friday. The infielder also tripled and threw out a runner at home in the eighth inning as the Cubs survived a late bullpen meltdown.

“Javy’s game today was complete,” manager Joe Maddon said. “Too many times in our industry we get hung up just on offensive numbers, but we won that game today on defense.”

Baez, who’s batting .299, is at the top of National League MVP candidates, at least as far as his teammates are concerned.

“His numbers are very good and very consistent offensively,” said Anthony Rizzo, who homered and had three hits. “Defensively, (running) the bases, he does it all.

“If he continues to do what he does … and with a first-place team with a lot of expectations. He’s just carrying the load.”

Baez credits “baseball instinct” for his breakout season.

“It’s just reacting to what you see, to be honest,” Baez said. “I don’t plan it, but as soon as I see it, I just react to it.”

Ben Zobrist drove in two runs for the NL Central-leading Cubs, who entered one game ahead of Milwaukee. Jose Quintana (10-7) allowed one run and four hits in six innings, leaving with a 3-1 lead.

Pedro Strop nearly wasted a 5-2 advantage, allowing Cory Spangenberg’s RBI double and Travis Jankowski’s run-scoring grounder before third baseman David Bote threw out Spangenberg at the plate trying to score on Manuel Margot’s grounder. Baez had thrown out Jankowski at the plate in the eighth when Jankowski tried to score on Hunter Renfroe’s grounder to second.

Strop struck out pinch-hitter Austin Hedges with a man on for his sixth save in nine chances.

“I thought it was a really good battle from our guys,” Padres manager Andy Green said. “We had a lot of really good swings, some good at-bats. They made some big plays on us late in the game.

“Baez had a big one. Bote made a big one (from) third base there at the end.”

Tyson Ross (6-9) gave up three runs and six hits in five innings as the Padres lost for the eighth time in their last nine games. San Diego is an NL-worst 43-69.

Atlanta 2, N.Y. Mets 1: Ozzie Albies hit a tiebreaking double off Jacob deGrom, Anibal Sanchez pitched six effective innings and the Atlanta Braves beat the New York Mets 2-1 for their fifth straight win.

Albies gave the Braves a 2-1 lead in the fifth when he doubled to left field corner as Ronald Acuna Jr. easily scored from second after getting a two-out double. Atlanta improved to 5-0 in games they have faced deGrom, though they have scored just four runs off him.

Philadelphia 5, Miami 1: Vince Velasquez allowed two hits in 6 1/3 scoreless innings to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 5-1 victory over the Miami Marlins.

Seranthony Dominguez recorded the final four outs for his 12th save in 13 chances as the Phillies won their third straight to remain a half-game in front of Atlanta for first place in the NL East.

Boston 4, N.Y. Yankees 1: Rick Porcello pitched a one-hitter, Steve Pearce homered for the fourth time in two nights and the Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankees 4-1 to open a season-high 7½-game lead in the AL East.

Miguel Andujar’s leadoff homer in the third was the only hit allowed by Porcello, who matched his season high with nine strikeouts and walked none. Boston manager Alex Cora was ejected one pitch into the bottom of the first.