Kelly hits for cycle and Cubs power past Athletics 18-3 in 1st MLB game at Sutter Health Park

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Carson Kelly hit for the cycle and drove in five runs, Michael Busch launched a two-run homer on the way to a career-high four RBIs, and the Chicago Cubs pounded the Athletics 18-3 on Monday night to spoil their first game in their new Northern California home.

Busch connected in the first inning and Dansby Swanson followed with a homer on a blustery night when the wind carried balls over the fence just as Cubs manager Craig Counsell predicted. Indeed, there were plenty of offensive fireworks in the first major league game at Sutter Health Park in California’s capital region.

With 21 hits, the Cubs amply backed right-hander Ben Brown (1-1), who struck out five in five innings for his second career win. They scored their most runs since an 18-8 victory at Pittsburgh last Aug. 26.

The 18 runs allowed by the A’s were the most by any team in a home opener in 100 years, according to Sportradar. The Browns allowed 21 to the Indians in 1925.

A's shortstop Jacob Wilson hit his first career homer leading off the third in front of a sellout crowd of 12,119.

The Cubs jumped on A’s righty Joey Estes (0-1), and Swanson homered for the second straight game.

All the A’s players wore No. 24 to honor late Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, who died Dec. 20 five days before his 66th birthday. A 24-second moment of silence was held after player introductions, then Henderson's three daughters threw out ceremonial first pitches.

Kelly homered in the fourth inning, had a two-run single in the fifth, doubled and walked in the sixth, and tripled in the eighth. The previous Cubs player to hit for the cycle was Mark Grace on May 9, 1993, against the San Diego Padres — before Kelly was even born in 1994.

No catcher for the Cubs had accomplished the feat since Randy Hundley on Aug. 11, 1966, versus Houston.

Kelly even walked twice, too. His run-scoring triple made it 17-3.

Cubs LHP Justin Steele (1-1, 8.00 ERA) takes the mound Tuesday in his third start of 2025. RHP Luis Severino (0-0, 0.00) makes his second start for the A's after pitching the opener Thursday at Seattle.

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Chicago Cubs designated hitter Seiya Suzuki tosses his bat during batting practice before a baseball game against the Athletics, Monday, March 31, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Chicago Cubs designated hitter Seiya Suzuki takes batting practice before a baseball game against the Athletics, Monday, March 31, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

A young Chicago Cubs fan catches a ball during batting practice before a baseball game against the Athletics, Monday, March 31, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Chicago Cubs' Seiya Suzuki catches a ball during batting practice, before a baseball game against the Athletics, Monday, March 31, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Athletics pitcher Joey Estes throws to a Chicago Cubs batter during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, March 31, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Fans arrive at Sutter Health Park for a baseball game between the Athletics and the Chicago Cubs, Monday, March 31, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

The Athletics and the Chicago Cubs listen to the national anthem before a baseball game Monday, March 31, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Chicago Cubs' Ben Brown pitches to a Athletics batter during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, March 31, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Monday, March 31, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch hits a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Monday, March 31, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Richard “Dick” Codey, a former acting governor of New Jersey and the longest serving legislator in the state's history, died Sunday. He was 79.

Codey’s wife, Mary Jo Codey, confirmed her husband’s death to The Associated Press.

“Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away peacefully this morning at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness,” Codey's family wrote in a Facebook post on Codey's official page.

"Our family has lost a beloved husband, father and grandfather -- and New Jersey lost a remarkable public servant who touched the lives of all who knew him," the family said.

Known for his feisty, regular-guy persona, Codey was a staunch advocate of mental health awareness and care issues. The Democrat also championed legislation to ban smoking from indoor areas and sought more money for stem cell research.

Codey, the son of a northern New Jersey funeral home owner, entered the state Assembly in 1974 and served there until he was elected to the state Senate in 1982. He served as Senate president from 2002 to 2010.

Codey first served as acting governor for a brief time in 2002, after Christine Todd Whitman’s resignation to join President George W. Bush’s administration. He held the post again for 14 months after Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned in 2004.

At that time, New Jersey law mandated that the Senate president assume the governor’s role if a vacancy occurred, and that person would serve until the next election.

Codey routinely drew strong praise from residents in polls, and he gave serious consideration to seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2005. But he ultimately chose not to run when party leaders opted to back wealthy Wall Street executive Jon Corzine, who went on to win the office.

Codey would again become acting governor after Corzine was incapacitated in April 2007 due to serious injuries he suffered in a car accident. He held the post for nearly a month before Corzine resumed his duties.

After leaving the governor’s office, Codey returned to the Senate and also published a memoir that detailed his decades of public service, along with stories about his personal and family life.

“He lived his life with humility, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to others,” his family wrote. “He made friends as easily with Presidents as he did with strangers in all-night diners.”

Codey and his wife often spoke candidly about her past struggles with postpartum depression, and that led to controversy in early 2005, when a talk radio host jokingly criticized Mary Jo and her mental health on the air.

Codey, who was at the radio station for something else, confronted the host and said he told him that he wished he could “take him outside.” But the host claimed Codey actually threatened to “take him out,” which Codey denied.

His wife told The Associated Press that Codey was willing to support her speaking out about postpartum depression, even if it cost him elected office.

“He was a really, really good guy,” Mary Jo Codey said. “He said, ‘If you want to do it, I don’t care if I get elected again.’”

Jack Brook contributed reporting from New Orleans.

FILE - New Jersey State Sen. and former Democratic Gov. Richard Codey is seen before New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature at the statehouse, in Trenton, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)