The Offense Wakes Up

The Chicago Cubs pounded the New York Mets 12-4 on Friday at Wrigley Field, completing a third consecutive game with double-digit runs — a feat the club hadn't achieved since September 2019.

Who Did the Damage

Seiya Suzuki ignited the first inning with an RBI single before Moisés Ballesteros crushed his third homer of the year, a three-run shot that gave Chicago a 4-0 lead. Nico Hoerner, fresh off a 5-for-11 stretch with eight RBIs in the prior two games, added a two-run homer in the second. Matt Shaw doubled in a run in the seventh, Dansby Swanson contributed a sacrifice fly, and Ian Happ capped the scoring with a two-run shot in the eighth — all against Mets starter Kodai Senga.

The Numbers Behind the Turnaround

The Cubs have now scored 10 or more runs in three straight games for the first time since September 2019. Only twice in franchise history have they done it in four or more consecutive games: a four-game run in June-July 2018, and a five-game stretch in June 1930. Friday also marked the fifth straight game with at least seven runs scored — the 13th time since 1900 the Cubs have managed that in five or more consecutive games.

From Rock Bottom to Hot Streak

Just five games ago, the Cubs were struggling. After a 4-3 loss to Pittsburgh in which they went 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position, Chicago's offense had averaged just 4.2 runs over 14 games and ranked 27th in MLB in wRC+ with runners on base.

Manager Craig Counsell and third baseman Alex Bregman both said the same two words after that loss: 'It'll turn.' In the five games since, the Cubs have scored 47 runs (9.4 per game) while hitting .353 with runners in scoring position.

'It was just a matter of time,' Happ said. 'This offense is really good top to bottom. It's deep. A lot of good hitters. Good plans.'

Counsell pointed to balance throughout the lineup. 'You're getting production from the one spot, the six spot, the nine spot. That's what happened today, and that's what's happened the last three days.'