CHICAGO (AP) — Michael Busch and the Chicago Cubs turned their holiday into a home run.
Eight of them, to be exact.
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Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong runs the bases after hitting a home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 4, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch, right, is greeted by Dansby Swanson (7) after hitting a two-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, July 4, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong hits a home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, July 4, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch hits a two-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, July 4, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch runs the bases and gestures after hitting a two-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning of a baseball game, Friday, July 4, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
Busch hit three longballs, Pete Crow-Armstrong connected twice and the Cubs went deep a franchise-record eight times to hammer the St. Louis Cardinals 11-3 on Friday for their fourth straight victory.
“It was just a fun game to be a part of,” Busch said. “Baseball is kind of a July Fourth kind of deal and especially to do it in Wrigley Field and have just so much excitement in the game — that was one I’ll never forget.”
The fireworks started long before sunset in front of 40,038 fans at Wrigley.
Busch went 4 for 4 with five RBIs in his first career three-homer performance and second multihomer game. His second drive of the day hit the right-field video board, just after Crow-Armstrong reached it.
“I think that's the little side effect of baseball,” Busch said. "You get in there just trying to have good at-bats and try to win the game, but when things like that happen, it's cool.
“You grow up dreaming of playing in the big leagues and to be able to do it and then, you know, to stitch your name in the Chicago Cubs record books is pretty cool.”
The eight longballs allowed by St. Louis also broke a club mark.
The 27-year-old Busch has rounded into a reliable everyday first baseman for the Cubs following a January 2024 trade from the Dodgers that largely went under the radar. He came to Chicago with right-hander Yency Almonte in a deal that sent prospects Jackson Ferris and Zyhir Hope to Los Angeles.
Busch played 152 games last season for the Cubs, batting .248 with 21 homers and 65 RBIs. This year, he's upped his average to .288 with 17 homers and 55 RBIs in 82 games.
“He's turned into a really great offensive player,” manager Craig Counsell said. “Last year it felt like there was kinds of ups and downs during the season. And this year, you know, he has lengthened the ups and shortened the downs.”
Crow-Armstrong also went 4 for 4 and Dansby Swanson launched a two-run homer for Chicago. Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly added solo shots as the NL Central leaders hit six homers in the first three innings off Miles Mikolas (4-6), a record for most home runs off a Cardinals pitcher in one game.
"We just did an extremely good job at being aggressive in the zone and it was just kind of our day," Busch said. “You know, we don't really miss in the zone and I think when that happens, we're a very scary ballteam."
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong runs the bases after hitting a home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 4, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch, right, is greeted by Dansby Swanson (7) after hitting a two-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, July 4, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong hits a home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, July 4, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch hits a two-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, July 4, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch runs the bases and gestures after hitting a two-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning of a baseball game, Friday, July 4, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Tanzania and Tunisia secured the last two available spots in the Africa Cup of Nations last 16 on Tuesday, completing the lineup before half of the groups had concluded their final games.
Tanzania's 1-1 draw with Tunisia in Group C wrecked Angola's hopes of squeezing through as one of the best third-place finishers with just two points from Group B. Angola’s goal difference was better than that of Comoros, the third-place finisher in Group A.
Feisal Salum’s equalizer for Tanzania sent the Taifa Stars through. While Tanzania and Angola both finished with two points and a goal difference of minus 1, the goal scored by Salum, who is commonly known as Fei Toto, took Tanzania's tally to three — one better than Angola's two goals.
All the other group stage survivors were decided already on Monday because of Angola and Comoros’ relatively low points total. It meant teams that already had more than two points and were already assured of at least third place in their groups could be certain of reaching the last 16.
The four best third-place teams from the six groups progress, along with the top two in each. Head-to-head results are the first determining factor if two teams finish with the same amount of points in a group.
Here's a look at which teams went through from the six groups:
Host nation Morocco progressed as the winner of Group A, followed by second-place Mali with just three points from three draws. Morocco next faces a third-place finisher from Groups C, D or E on Sunday. More importantly for the Atlas Lions, they will continue their run to the final in the almost 70,000-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, which will also stage the final on Jan. 18. Mali awaits Tunisia for a showdown in Casablanca on Saturday.
Seven-time champion Egypt booked its place after two games and won Group B to advance with South Africa in second, ahead of Angola. Egypt stays in Agadir and next faces a third-place finisher from Groups A, C or D on Jan. 5. South Africa faces a likely tough game against the runner-up in Group F on Sunday.
Nigeria was already sure of topping Group C before its 3-1 win over Uganda on Tuesday. The Super Eagles will remain in Fez for their first knockout game against a third-place finisher from Groups A, B or F on Jan. 5. Tunisia faces Mali in the last 16, and Tanzania progressed as the fourth-best third-place finisher.
Senegal, Congo and Benin were already sure of progressing before their final group games late Tuesday. In the end, Senegal topped the group on goal difference after its 3-0 win over Benin, while Congo finished second after a 3-0 win over Botswana. Botswana had already lost to Senegal and Benin and was certain of finishing last.
Top spot ensured Senegal stays in Tangier for its first knockout game on Saturday against a third-place finisher from Groups B, E or F. But the 2021 champion will be without suspended captain Kalidou Koulibaly.
Congo next faces Algeria, and Benin – like the other surviving third-place finishers – will face one of the group winners.
Algeria is certain to win Group E before its final group games, and Burkina Faso and Sudan are certain to advance because they cannot finish below Equatorial Guinea, which lost both games against them. Algeria will play Congo, the second-place finisher from Group D, on Jan 6. in the same Rabat stadium where it has played all its games so far. On Wednesday, Sudan play Burkina Faso and Algeria plays Equatorial Guinea.
Defending champion Ivory Coast, five-time winner Cameroon, and Mozambique are assured of progress from Group F. Gabon, sure to finish last, was already eliminated before the last round of group games on Wednesday, when the order of the top three teams will be decided. Ivory Coast plays Gabon and Cameroon faces Mozambique.
AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations
A DR Congo fans cheer prior to the Africa Cup of Nations group D soccer match between Botswana and DR Congo in Rabat, Morocco, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
A DR Congo fan cheers prior to the Africa Cup of Nations group D soccer match between Botswana and DR Congo in Rabat, Morocco, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
Morocco fans wait for the start of the Africa Cup of Nations group A soccer match between Zambia and Morocco in Rabat, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Tunisia's supporters wait for the start of the Africa Cup of Nations group C soccer match between Tanzania and Tunisia in Rabat, Morocco, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
A Moroccan fan waits for the start of the Africa Cup of Nations group A soccer match between Zambia and Morocco in Rabat, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
A Moroccan fan waits for the start of the Africa Cup of Nations group A soccer match between Zambia and Morocco in Rabat, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Senegal fans support their national team during the Africa Cup of Nations group D soccer match between Senegal and DR Congo in Tangier, Morocco, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
