LOS ANGELES — If Michael Busch held any extra incentive to remind his former team what they gave up, the Chicago Cubs first baseman downplayed that after a stellar performance.
Busch collected four hits, including a solo homer and double, and three RBIs in the Cubs’ 10-4 win Monday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 26-year-old lefty slugger, whose 17th homer of the season is third most on the Cubs, returned to Dodger Stadium for the first time since Los Angeles traded him in January.
“I wouldn’t necessarily put it that way,” Busch said when asked of any added motivation this series. “We’re trying to win games here so every at-bat we’re all trying to have a good one. We know offensively they’re a really good team — they’re just a really good team in general.
“So at any point they can put together some good at-bats and runs. Just trying to put a ton of pressure on them every inning.”
Busch’s standout night resulted in his second career four-hit game and his second career three-RBI performance, the latter of which have both come against the Dodgers. Cubs manager Craig Counsell was most impressed by Busch’s opposite-field home run, which just cleared the short porch down the left field line in the fourth inning to give the Cubs a 4-0 lead versus Dodgers starter Walker Buehler. The long ball represented the first oppo-field homer of Busch’s big-league career.
“If there’s anything that he hasn’t done this year that we’re a little surprised maybe is the opposite field power,” Counsell said. “I think he’s got that in him and I think we’ll see that come eventually.”
Busch believes if he can identify pitches he knows he can’t drive pull side, he’s capable of hitting more balls the other way for slug.
“If I can stay through that a little longer like I did, I think it’ll give me a chance to drive the ball the other way, get a hit, drop it down the line,” Busch said.
Cody Bellinger’s comfortability at Dodger Stadium was again on display Monday. Moments after Dodgers fans showered him with cheers prior to his first at-bat, Bellinger crushed a first-pitch fastball to right field for a two-run homer to give right-hander Kyle Hendricks an early lead to work with.
Bellinger understands what Busch might have felt being back and complimented how he handled not only that experience, but his performance throughout this year.
“It’s always a weird feeling, I mean, he knows a lot of the guys on the other side as well and it just shows how good he is,” Bellinger said. “He can lock it in when there’s extra things going on.
“We all learn how to be a big leaguer, we all learn how to come in every day, and get your body right, get your mind right, whatever it is, and he’s learning how to do that. And it’s not an easy task. He’s done a tremendous job at first base as well. He’s just a really good baseball player, and I’m really happy for him.”
Although Busch has struggled the last three weeks, posting a .160/.250/.213 slash line with three extra-base hits and 7 RBIs in his last 84 plate appearances entering Monday, his all-around development has been a bright spot this season.
Counsell reiterated before the series opener how pleased he’s been with Busch’s rookie campaign, especially defensively. The process of becoming a plus defender at first base is “one that’s a little harder to see statistically every day,” Counsell noted, but Busch’s 4 Outs Above Average (OAA) are tied for third-most among National League first basemen while his 9 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) are tied for second in the majors at his position.
Offensive lulls can happen over the totality of 162 games. The consistency with the process of his daily preparation and how Busch has handled the stretches he endures a slump are encouraging signs in his first full season in the majors. Maybe a game like Monday’s against the organization that helped fulfill a big-league dream can be the spark for a strong finish to his rookie year.
“It’s always good coming back to your former team and having a big night,” a smiling Counsell said. “It’s fun, there’s a little something for the player in there, always just a little bit extra.”
