Suzuki’s return helps power Cubs’ 5-homer night in LA
For the Cubs, Suzuki’s return from the injured listing and to the lineup was the extra impactful storyline. In an 8-2 win over the Dodgers, Suzuki confirmed why with a towering residence run — a part of back-to-back blasts with Ian Happ within the eighth inning — to spotlight a five-homer day for the North Siders.
“It’s exciting. It was cool to see his name in the lineup,” Bellinger stated. “I think that brings a whole different dynamic to this lineup.”
Suzuki’s presence as an influence risk with plus contact means within the cleanup spot offers Chicago’s offense one other layer. He additionally offers the Cubs a constant entrance 4 with Nico Hoerner main off, Dansby Swanson subsequent and Happ following within the third slot.
Cubs supervisor David Ross is not going to solely be capable of pencil that foursome in on a nightly foundation, however maybe for the foreseeable future. When Happ signed a three-year extension on Wednesday, it locked him in with Hoerner, Swanson and Suzuki by way of at the very least the 2026 season.
“Our ultimate goal is to win the championship,” Suzuki stated through his interpreter, Toy Matsushita, earlier than Friday’s win. “And I think we have all the pieces to do that. I want to be a good piece in that plan and make sure we win a lot of games.”
Suzuki signed a five-year deal previous to final season, whereas the Cubs have been nonetheless working by way of a rebuild. Swanson highlighted Chicago’s aggressive winter of additives, penning his title on a seven-year, $177 million deal. Hoerner signed a three-year extension on March 30.
Together, these offers assist convey a brand new core group into focus.
“The last few years obviously had their purpose,” Hoerner stated, “so far as individually and making an attempt to get a way of route for the group and issues like that. But, to really know who these persons are, at the very least about half the lineup, it simply helps have a imaginative and prescient of what it seems to be like.
“It makes it easier to believe in. It makes it exciting that the relationships you’re developing right now are not only for today, but also for what’s to come.”
Cubs followers would find it irresistible if Friday night time’s outpouring proved to be a preview.
Suzuki’s residence run off Andre Jackson rocketed off his bat at 106.8 mph and minimize by way of the Chavez Ravine air for a projected 406 ft, per Statcast. The shot got here after Happ belted his homer as a part of a 4-for-4 exhibiting, together with a pair of RBI doubles and a stroll, to assist drive the Cubs offense.
“It gives us that extra length and pushes everybody down one spot,” Happ stated of Suzuki’s return. “His at-bats are always really good and consistent. And for him to hit a homer tonight and start that way was really awesome. And really big for us.”
With Suzuki inserted again within the coronary heart of the order, Bellinger and Patrick Wisdom — two extra run producers with energy — dropped into the fifth and sixth spots, respectively. Bellinger doubled and scored in his return, whereas Wisdom received in on the derby within the eighth with a homer of his personal.
“I feel like our offense is really starting to find its groove, really starting to click,” stated Cubs lefty Justin Steele, who struck out eight and allowed two runs over seven innings. “It’s always awesome to see the ball leave the yard when it’s on our side. It’s a lot of fun to watch.”
The lineup appeared particularly deep on Friday, when veteran catcher Yan Gomes loved a two-homer night time out of the Cubs’ No. 9 slot. Gomes completed with three hits and stole a base, making him the primary Cubs catcher to steal a bag and have two homers in a sport since at the very least 1901. The final MLB catcher to tug off the feat was Brian McCann in 2008.
“Nice to have Seiya back,” Ross stated. “When your seven-hole hitter turns into your eight-hole hitter, and also you’re simply pushing all people down, and Yan Gomes is within the nine-spot having that massive day, it simply lengthens the lineup.
“And Seiya, the home run. That’s got to feel good.”
