Dusty Baker’s son just hit a game-tying grand slam against the Astros (Video)
By Scott Rogust
Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker watched his son, Darren, hit a grand slam against his team.
Last season, Dusty Baker won his first World Series title as a manager after the Houston Astros defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in six games. Now, he is looking to bring the team back to the Fall Classic for the third year in a row. But first, they have to get through spring training.
On Friday, the Astros faced off against the Washington Nationals in an exhibition game. Baker and the Astros watched as their 7-3 lead turn into a 7-7 tie, thanks in part to a grand slam. Not just any grand slam, a grand slam hit by Dusty’s son, Darren!
Darren Baker hits clutch grand slam against his father’s Astros
What a moment for Darren. That was the spark that the Nationals needed, as they pulled away for the 11-7 victory over the Astros. After the game, Darren sent out a tweet towards his father, saying, “dinner on me tonight pops.”
Baker was asked about his son’s clutch bases loaded grand slam, and said he was conflicted about whether to be “proud” or angry.”
“I knew he was going to make contact, because he doesn’t strike out,” Dusty said, h/t MASN Sports. “I was just hoping when that ball went up that it would just be a sacrifice fly. I would have been happy with that. He could get an RBI, and we’d get the win. …
“I didn’t know whether to be a proud papa or an angry papa, but boy that was a nightmare ninth inning. We couldn’t get anybody out.”
Darren made waves in the MLB back during the 2002 World Series, where he was a bat boy for Dusty’s San Francisco Giants. During Game 5 of that series, Darren was rescued by JT Snow from a collision at home plate after a triple by Kenny Lofton.
Now, he is a prospect for the Nationals. This past season with Single-A+ and Double-A, Baker recorded a .280 batting average, a .343 on-base percentage, a .365 slugging percentage, three home runs, 39 RBI, 66 runs scored and 116 hits in 105 games.
This spring, Baker is slashing .750/.800/1.500 while recording one home run, two runs scored, three hits, and four RBI in three games.
After an incredible moment facing off against his father’s team, Darren let the reigning World Series champion know that dinner will be on him.