Michael Busch had his first multi-home run game in the major leagues, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 6-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday and ending a three-game losing streak.
Chicago managed to get just 3 hits in 14 chances with runners in scoring position and left 16 runners on base, which tied the major league record for the most runners left on base in a nine-inning game this season.
“We left a lot of runners on base, but we played good offense,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “We were missing the next hit, but getting those extra runs in the ninth inning was very important.”
The Cubs (76-73), who had lost seven of their last 11 games, started the day six games behind Atlanta and the New York Mets for the final NL wild card spot. The Mets lost to Philadelphia.
Busch drove in the go-ahead run with a single in the third inning, then hit solo home runs in the seventh inning off Jake Bird and in the ninth against Justin Lawrence, bringing his season total to 20 home runs. Busch was 6 for 10 with three homers and seven RBIs in the series.
Busch’s first homer traveled 438 feet, and his second went a career-long 468 feet, both into the right field second deck.
“I’m just trying to be aggressive, trust my eyes, and stick to my approach, no matter if I’m ahead or behind in the count,” Busch said.
Kyle Hendricks (4-11) allowed one run and two hits in six innings with seven strikeouts. Hendricks became the first Cubs pitcher to throw at least six innings while allowing two or fewer hits and one or fewer runs in a start at Coors Field, which opened in 1995.
“Stuff moves differently (in Colorado), so you just focus on execution and stay with it one pitch at a time, and with our lineup and defense, you rely on all the guys around you,” Hendricks said.
