Baker makes new memories at Wrigley Field

CHICAGO -- On May 4, 2003, a 4-year-old Darren Baker sang “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” at Wrigley Field while his mother, Melissa, held him up and his father, Dusty, managed the Cubs.

On Thursday, a 25-year-old Baker made his first Major League start at the same historic ballpark.

“I started Little League here at Welles Park right down the street, so now it’s full circle,” he said. “It’s pretty cool.”

The lefty-hitting Baker, who debuted with the Nationals on Sept. 1, got the nod at second base while Luis García Jr. is sidelined with right wrist soreness. Baker went 3-for-4 in the Nationals’ 7-6 loss to the Cubs, including a pair of singles off right-hander Javier Assad and a double off righty Shawn Armstrong.

“He knows himself really well,” said manager Dave Martinez. “He didn’t try to do too much. He stayed on the ball. He hit a couple balls the other way really, really well, so that was awesome to see.”

Baker continued his trend of making early contact when, in his first at-bat, he singled the second pitch he saw from Assad -- a changeup --into center field.

“These guys are good,” Baker said. “I’m not trying to always hit with two strikes or behind the count. It doesn’t really work that way. If I see one I can handle, I just let it go.”

In the fourth inning, Baker reached first base on a 91.6 mph fastball hit to third baseman Isaac Paredes. He tracked his fastest sprint speed of 29.6 feet per second on the single. (The Major League average is 27 feet per second.)

“I told him today, just be where your feet are,” Martinez said. “Understand what you’re trying to do each play, know the situations and go have fun.”

Facing reliever Armstrong, Baker doubled a cutter into left field. He scored on Joey Gallo’s eighth home run of the season.

"Three knocks, that a boy,” said shortstop CJ Abrams. “He did his thing out there. It’s fun to watch.”

Baker struck out swinging in the eighth inning to complete his first start with four trips to the plate.

“It’s a long game and the margins are slim, especially at this level,” Baker said. “The difference between winning and losing is inches. I knew that before, but kind of feeling it in the game today, it felt different.”

Baker has hit 5-for-8 with two doubles and one run scored in his first six games.

“He’s a good baseball player,” Martinez said. “He understands the game. He grew up in a baseball family.”

As part of a historic baseball family, Baker grew up around icons in the game. That includes Hall of Famer Andre Dawson, the honored singer of the “Seventh Inning Stretch.” This time, Baker watched on from the infield.

“He’s a close family friend,” Baker said. “I’m sure if my dad knew, he would have told me to say hi. Pretty cool to have him here tonight.”

As for how Baker ranks his Wrigley Field moments, Thursday’s game takes over the long-held first-place spot of his singing performance.

“[There are] a bunch of pictures in our house of that one,” Baker said. “So it’ll probably move down to second tonight.”