Michael Busch hits 3-run homer to back Javier Assad's strong start, Cubs beat Giants 5-1

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Michael Busch hit a three-run homer into McCovey Cove beyond right field in the fifth inning to back Javier Assad's strong start on the mound, and the Chicago Cubs beat the San Francisco Giants 5-1 on Friday night.

Busch's drive was the 176th splash hit at Oracle Park, 68th by an opponent and fourth by a Cubs player — first since Joc Pederson on June 3, 2021.

Seiya Suzuki broke up a scoreless game with an RBI double in the fourth then scored moments later on Nico Hoerner's sacrifice fly.

Assad (4-1) struck out five, walked one and allowed three hits over six innings to win his third straight decision spanning seven starts. His throwing error on a pickoff attempt of Bryce Eldridge in the fourth could have been costly but the right-hander stranded Eldridge on third.

Hoby Milner pitched the seventh and Trent Thornton the final two innings, surrendering Eldridge's one-out homer in the ninth.

Busch greeted reliever Erik Miller with his eighth home run after Chicago put runners aboard on Pete Crow-Armstrong's double and a leadoff walk by Carson Kelly against Giants starter Landen Roupp (5-7). Roupp was tagged for four runs on four hits over 4 2/3 innings.

Chicago won for the third time in its last seven games.

San Francisco had beaten the Cubs 18-3 last Friday then 2-1 in extra innings Sunday — but the Giants dropped to 7-3 overall in the matchups since the start of the 2025 season, outscoring the Cubs 63-35. San Francisco is 6-2 at Oracle Park in the series dating to the beginning of 2024.

Jung Hoo Lee went 0 for 3 and had his career-best 18-game hitting streak snapped — longest by a Giants batter since Angel Pagan hit in 19 in a row from July 31-Aug. 23, 2016.

RHP Ben Brown (2-2, 1.74 ERA) pitches the middle game for Chicago opposite Giants RHP Trevor McDonald (2-3, 4.15), making his second straight start against the Cubs.

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Landen Roupp throws to a Chicago Cubs batter during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, June 12, 2026, in San Francisco, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong reacts after hitting a double during the third inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants Friday, June 12, 2026, in San Francisco, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) hits a double during the third inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants Friday, June 12, 2026, in San Francisco, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Chicago Cubs pitcher Javier Assad throws to first base for an out during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Friday, June 12, 2026, in San Francisco, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Chicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch catches a pop fly for the second out of the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants Friday, June 12, 2026, in San Francisco, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

NEW YORK (AP) — Bo Bichette hit a grand slam and a solo homer and matched a career high with six RBIs, leading the New York Mets to a 7-5 win over the MLB-leading Atlanta Braves on Friday night.

Bichette last drove in six runs in a game on Aug. 4, 2025, as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Bichette hit both his homers, a 383-foot solo shot in the first and a 341-foot slam to right in the second, off Braves starter Spencer Strider (4-2), who left with right elbow and shoulder soreness after facing one batter in the fourth inning. Manager Walt Weiss said after the game Strider will undergo imaging.

Bichette's seventh homer of the season came before Juan Soto's solo shot in the first. After his grand slam with two out in the second, Bichette lofted a run-scoring sac fly in the fourth.

Cionel Perez (3-3), the first of four Mets relievers to follow Nolan McLean, was credited with the win after allowing one run in 1 1/3 innings. McLean allowed two runs and struck out six in four innings, but walked four and threw 93 pitches, including 42 in the second.

Devin Williams allowed Eli White’s infield RBI single before getting the final four outs for his 10th save — and his first of longer than three outs since May 28, 2023.

Dominic Smith, Mike Yastrzemski and Ozzie Albies had RBI singles, and Matt Olson homered for the Braves, who dropped their third straight. Atlanta leads the NL East and boasts the best record in baseball at 45-24.

Strider, whose velocity dipped into the 87-88 mph range while issuing a leadoff walk to MJ Melendez in the fourth, allowed a season-high seven runs and struck out three.

The start of the game was delayed 76 minutes due to rain.

Braves LHP Martín Pérez (4-3, 3.02 ERA) was scheduled to start Saturday against LHP Sean Manaea (1-1, 5.02).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

New York Mets' Juan Soto celebrates after his solo home run during first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, June 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez) CORRECTION: Corrects to Atlanta Braves not St. Louis Cardinals.

New York Mets' Marcus Semien, left, reach second base safe as Atlanta Braves' a-Seong Kim keeps an eye on him during the second inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

New York Mets' Bo Bichette (19) celebrates a solo home run with a teammate during the second inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, June 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez) CORRECTION: Atlanta Braves is correct instead of St. Louis Cardinals

New York Mets' Bo Bichette (19) celebrates a solo home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, June 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)