PHOENIX — Michael Busch wasted little time inserting himself into the Cubs’ record books.
In his first at-bat of the game, Busch blasted an 0-2 cutter from Arizona starter Merrill Kelly 419 feet into the Chase Field pool area in right-center to put Chicago ahead, 1-0, in the second inning.
The Diamondbacks tied it in the bottom half of the inning and took a 2-1 lead in the eighth, but Chicago tied the game on a wild pitch in the ninth inning. The Cubs went ahead for good in the 11th when Nico Hoerner stroked a bases-loaded single to right off Arizona reliever Bryce Jarvis.
Acquired over the winter from the Dodgers, Busch is the fifth Cubs player to ever homer in five consecutive games. The most recent Cub to do so stands just across the diamond from him — Chicago third baseman Christopher Morel accomplished the feat just last May. The others are Sammy Sosa (1998), Ryne Sandberg (1989) and Hack Wilson (1928).
Busch also entered the game with five homers since April 3, tied with Mets slugger Pete Alonso for the most in the National League in that span. Busch is a proven power threat, having hit 29 homers between the Majors and Minors last year, and 32 in the Minor Leagues the year before.
And though it’s far too early to extrapolate accurately, it’s worth noting that his long ball Monday puts him on pace for 60 homers this year.
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