Cubs offense shows signs of life, push past Tigers 3-1

Cody Bellinger hit a two-run double and Dansby Swanson homered to lift the Cubs over the Tigers, 3-1, on Tuesday night.

Bellinger went 2-for-4 to lead Chicago. Javier Assad (6-3) pitched 5 2/3 innings for the Cubs, allowing just one run on six hits and striking out seven.

Tyson Miller, Drew Smyly and Porter Hodge threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings, each allowing a hit, to close the game. Hodge earned his second save.

Detroit fell despite strong performances at the plate by Dillon Dingler and Spencer Torkelson. Dingler hit in the Tigers’ lone run with an RBI single and added a triple. Torkelson was 4-for-4.

Detroit’s series opener at Chicago was Tigers shortstop Javier Báez’s first game at Wrigley since he was traded by the Cubs to the New York Mets in July 2021. The 31-year-old Báez spent his first 7 1/2 seasons in the majors with Chicago, helping the franchise to a historic World Series championship in 2016. He went hitless in four attempts with four strikeouts. He was greeted with a standing ovation prior to his first at-bat.



(AP Photo Melissa Tamez)