The Chicago Cubs made franchise history in a dominant 11-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, smashing a record eight home runs. Michael Busch led the offensive explosion with three homers, while Pete Crow-Armstrong added two. This remarkable power display showcased the Cubs’ potent offense, further solidifying their position atop the NL Central.
Cubs’ Historic Home Run Barrage
The Cubs’ bats ignited early and often against Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas, setting a new franchise record with six home runs in the first three innings. The team continued its onslaught throughout the game, ultimately reaching an unprecedented eight long balls. This offensive outburst was a stark contrast to their previous game, where they needed 10 innings to score just one run against the Guardians.
Key Takeaways
Franchise Record: The Cubs set a new club record with eight home runs in a single game.
Early Dominance: Six of the eight home runs came in the first three innings, all off Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas.
Individual Brilliance: Michael Busch hit three home runs, marking his first career three-homer game and becoming the first Cubs first baseman to achieve this feat since Ernie Banks in 1963. Pete Crow-Armstrong contributed with two homers.
Back-to-Back Power: The Cubs hit back-to-back home runs three times during the game, a rare feat last accomplished by the Dodgers in 2016.
Offensive Prowess: The Cubs’ 133 team home runs now rank third in MLB, trailing only the Dodgers and Yankees. They also boast the second-highest runs scored in the league.
Michael Busch’s Stellar Performance
Michael Busch was the undisputed star of the night, going 4-for-4 with five RBIs and three home runs. His performance was a testament to his improved consistency at the plate this season. Manager Craig Counsell praised Busch, noting his ability to “lengthened out the ups and shortened the downs” compared to his rookie season. Busch’s 17 home runs this year are already nearing his 2024 total of 21, and his OPS has climbed to .919.
Team Resilience Amidst Injuries
Despite significant injuries to key starting pitchers like Justin Steele (out for the season) and Jameson Taillon (out for at least a month), the Cubs’ offense has kept them competitive. Their ability to avoid prolonged slumps, both individually and as a team, has been crucial to their success. The win improved their record to 53-35, maintaining a comfortable lead in the NL Central.
Sources
CUBS POSTCAST: The Chicago Cubs set a FRANCHISE RECORD, hit 8 HOMERS in 11-3 win vs the Cardinals, KHOU.
Cubs hit 6 home runs in first 3 innings against Cardinals, MLB.com.
Cubs break franchise record with 8 home runs, 3 by Michael Busch | National Sports, Herald Bulletin.
Baseball: Seiya Suzuki goes long as Cubs hit record 8 HRs against Cards, Kyodo News Plus.
Busch hits 3 homers and Cubs set club record with 8 in 11-3 rout of Cardinals | Sports, The Daily Gazette.
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