Busch's big day propels Cubs to 8-3 win over Nationals
[June 04, 2025] By
IAN NICHOLAS QUILLEN
WASHINGTON (AP) — Michael Busch hit his ninth homer of
the season, drove in three runs and finished a double shy of the cycle
to help the Chicago Cubs to a 8-3 victory over the Washington Nationals
on Tuesday night.
Nico Hoerner singled in two runs to complete a four-run fifth inning
that put Chicago up 7-3. Dansby Swanson added a pair of sacrifice flies
as the Cubs won their third straight and 15th out of 19. |
Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch (29) is greeted by third base coach Quintin
Berry after hitting a triple against Washington Nationals pitcher Trevor
Williams during the second inning of a baseball game in Washington,
Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams) |
|
Right-hander Cade Horton (3-0) allowed three
runs over 5 1/3 innings to start Chicago’s nine-game road trip.
CJ Abrams, James Wood and Luis García Jr. drove in runs for the
Nationals.
Busch tripled and singled off Trevor Williams (3-6), forced
across a run on a bases-loaded walk against Andrew Chafin in the
fifth, then hit a seventh-inning solo shot off Zach Brzykcy.
He flew out to left against Jackson Rutledge in the ninth to
fall just short of Chicago’s second cycle this season. On March
31, Carson Kelly became the first Cubs batter to accomplish the
feat since 1993.
Key moment
With the bases loaded and only one run in during the fifth,
Busch fouled a 2-2 offering off his right leg and limped out of
the batters box. After a visit from team medical personnel, he
drew two consecutive balls off Chafin to force in a run and
prolong Chicago's big inning.
Key stat
With his fifth-inning single, Hoerner lifted his season batting
average to .433 (26 for 60) with runners in scoring position and
extended his on-base streak to 16 games.
Up next
Both teams start left-handers looking to string together strong
performances on Wednesday. Chicago's Matthew Boyd (5-2, 3.08
ERA) pitched six innings of four-hit ball in a 2-1 win over
Colorado last Wednesday. Washington's MacKenzie Gore (2-5, 3.16)
has allowed just one run and six hits over his last two outings
(12 IP).
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