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Busch connected in the first inning and Dansby
Swanson followed with a homer on a blustery night when the wind
carried balls over the fence just as Cubs manager Craig Counsell
predicted. Indeed, there were plenty of offensive fireworks in
the first major league game at Sutter Health Park in
California’s capital region.
With 21 hits, the Cubs amply backed right-hander Ben Brown
(1-1), who struck out five in five innings for his second career
win. They scored their most runs since an 18-8 victory at
Pittsburgh last Aug. 26.
The 18 runs allowed by the A’s were the most by any team in a
home opener in 100 years, according to Sportradar. The Browns
allowed 21 to the Indians in 1925.
A's shortstop Jacob Wilson hit his first career homer leading
off the third in front of a sellout crowd of 12,119.
The Cubs jumped on A’s righty Joey Estes (0-1), and Swanson
homered for the second straight game.
Key moment
All the A’s players wore No. 24 to honor late Hall of Famer
Rickey Henderson, who died Dec. 20 five days before his 66th
birthday. A 24-second moment of silence was held after player
introductions, then Henderson's three daughters threw out
ceremonial first pitches.
Key stat
Kelly homered in the fourth inning, had a two-run single in the
fifth, doubled and walked in the sixth, and tripled in the
eighth. The previous Cubs player to hit for the cycle was Mark
Grace on May 9, 1993, against the San Diego Padres — before
Kelly was even born in 1994.
No catcher for the Cubs had accomplished the feat since Randy
Hundley on Aug. 11, 1966, versus Houston.
Kelly even walked twice, too. His run-scoring triple made it
17-3.
Up next
Cubs LHP Justin Steele (1-1, 8.00 ERA) takes the mound Tuesday
in his third start of 2025. RHP Luis Severino (0-0, 0.00) makes
his second start for the A's after pitching the opener Thursday
at Seattle.
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