CHICAGO (AP) — Cody Bellinger was on a roll prior to his injury. He sure gave the Cubs a big boost in his return.
Bellinger homered and had three hits to help Chicago beat the San Diego Padres 3-2 Tuesday night after the slugger missed two weeks because of broken ribs.
“Obviously, you don't expect to go out and get three hits,” he said. “But for me, it felt like I was in a good spot, obviously before the injury. And then working back, I just wanted to maintain it. A good first day.”
Bellinger batted third and was the designated hitter in his first appearance since April 23. The 2019 NL MVP fractured two ribs on his right side when he ran into the center field wall at Wrigley Field trying to make a play against the Houston Astros.
It was a sweet return for Bellinger. He extended his hitting streak to nine games and is 13 for 34 in that stretch.
Bellinger had the crowd cheering when he connected leading off the fourth against Randy Vásquez, driving a 3-2 pitch to the right-field bleachers for his sixth home run of the season. He also singled twice.
“You want to have your best players in the lineup, you want to be able to put your best team out there as much as you can,” manager Craig Counsell said before the game. “Getting Cody back puts us in a step in the right direction. We're happy to have him back. He's been a really good offensive player in this league. He's been off a little bit, but confident that it was a short layoff and we can get him back in the swing of things quickly.”
The Cubs also placed right-handed pitcher Daniel Palencia on the 15-day injured list because of a strained right shoulder. They recalled right-hander Keegan Thompson from Triple-A Iowa and optioned outfielder Alexander Canario to the minor league club.
Outfielder Seiya Suzuki (strained right oblique) was headed to Iowa to play Wednesday and Thursday and could return this weekend at Pittsburgh, Counsell said, giving the Cubs another big bat in the lineup. He has not played since April 14.
Bellinger, meanwhile, was ready to go. Though he's not pain free, he woke up feeling well enough to return after facing live pitching on Monday.
“It's more mentally draining than obviously physically draining, just watching and wanting to be out there every night,” Bellinger said. “I'm glad to be back and ready to get back into the flow of things again.”
Counsell said the plan was to have Bellinger serve as the DH on Tuesday and probably Wednesday before deciding whether to play him in the field.
The 28-year-old Bellinger is batting .250 with six home runs and 18 RBIs. He hit .307 with 26 homers, 97 RBIs and 20 steals in 2023, his first season with the Cubs, regaining his form after a couple of down years. He re-signed with Chicago in February for an $80 million, three-year contract.
The Cubs were 22-15 and trailed NL Central leader Milwaukee by a few percentage points following Tuesday's game, despite dealing with their share of injuries. Ace Justin Steele returned Monday to one of baseball's best rotations after being sidelined since the season opener because of a strained left hamstring. The lineup is getting its key pieces back, with Bellinger returning and Suzuki just about ready.
“The starting pitching's been amazing,” Bellinger said. “It shows the depth that we have as an organization as well. We kind of saw it in spring, and it really got shown to light here early on in the season.”
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Chicago Cubs' Cody Bellinger watches his home run against the San Diego Padres during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Chicago Cubs' Cody Bellinger, left, and Christopher Morel celebrate Bellinger's home run against the San Diego Padres during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Chicago Cubs' Cody Bellinger runs the bases on a home run against the San Diego Padres during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
BRIGHTON, England (AP) — Manchester United slumped to its worst-ever Premier League finish in eighth place and closed the campaign with a negative goal difference despite beating Brighton 2-0 away in their final game on Sunday.
Diogo Dalot and Rasmus Hojlund were the scorers for United at Amex Stadium as United finished outside the European qualification spots.
Finishing in sixth or seventh place would have confirmed a place in the Europa League or Europa Conference League, respectively, for United, the 20-time English champion. However, the two teams above United — Chelsea and Newcastle — both won elsewhere in the final round.
United could still get into the Europa League by beating Manchester City in the FA Cup on Saturday.
It was United's worst league campaign since coming 13th in the old First Division under Alex Ferguson in 1990.
“We have the best fans in the world and I mean this,” said United manager Erik ten Hag, whose team has endured an injury-hit season. “I have never had this experience when you have a season like us, which is by far not good enough, that the supporters are with us.
“They are with us in the bad season and in bad times they are there. I think also they know why the bad times are there. But we have to pay them back and we have to do everything to give them a trophy next week — but also for the future, we have to perform better.”
It was Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi's final match in charge of his team. He announced Saturday he'd be stepping down after Sunday's game.
While cross-town rival City was busy being crowned league champion for an unprecedented fourth season in a row, United overcame a poor first-half display to avoid setting a new record for the club’s lowest Premier League points tally.
Yet Ten Hag’s men still finished a difficult campaign, which brought 14 top-flight defeats, with a goal difference of -1.
Hojlund, the Denmark international, has hit 16 goals in his debut season, including 10 in the league, following his big-money move from Atalanta. Ten Hag said he hopes that tally increases at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
“It could always be better but don’t forget he had three injuries this season,” Ten Hag said of the 21-year-old Hojlund's contribution.
“He came in with the injury, missed the start, then he got injured before winter and then he got injured after winter. So every time that broke his rhythm and if you then shoot 16 goals for the first season it’s OK. And it’s not over, we have to play the FA Cup final.”
Following a series of fitness setbacks among this squad, Ten Hag believes he now has a positive selection headache as he contemplates his cup final lineup.
Center back Lisandro Martinez made his first start since early February on the south coast, while Raphael Varane returned to action as a substitute following more than six weeks out.
“I would say the manager and the coaching team have luxury problems, which is good,” Ten Hag said.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag looks on, during the English Premier League soccer match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester United, at the Amex Stadium, in Brighton and Hove, England, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (Steven Paston/PA via AP)
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag applauds fans, at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester United, at the Amex Stadium, in Brighton and Hove, England, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (Steven Paston/PA via AP)
FILE - Brighton's head coach Roberto De Zerbi shouts to his players from the sideline during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England, on March 31, 2024. De Zerbi will leave the club after the team’s game against Manchester United. De Zerbi has been discussed as a potential coaching candidate for higher-profile clubs and his “mutually agreed” split from Brighton after Sunday’s match will only fuel further speculation. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana, centre, makes a save, during the English Premier League soccer match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester United, at the Amex Stadium, in Brighton and Hove, England, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (Steven Paston/PA via AP)
Brighton's Joao Pedro, left and Manchester United's Aaron Wan-Bissaka vie for the ball, during the English Premier League soccer match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester United, at the Amex Stadium, in Brighton and Hove, England, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (Steven Paston/PA via AP)
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag smiles, ahead of the English Premier League soccer match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester United, at the Amex Stadium, in Brighton and Hove, England, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (Steven Paston/PA via AP)
