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Michael Busch homers for Chicago Cubs against former team

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Michael Busch homers for Chicago Cubs against former team
Sport

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Michael Busch homers for Chicago Cubs against former team

2024-04-06 07:18 Last Updated At:07:20

CHICAGO (AP) — Michael Busch engaged in some friendly banter with some of his former teammates before the Chicago Cubs kicked off their series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Then he really had some fun.

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Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch reacts after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, April 5, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch reacts after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, April 5, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch signals to the dugout after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, April 5, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch signals to the dugout after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, April 5, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch celebrates in the dugout after scoring during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, April 5, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch celebrates in the dugout after scoring during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, April 5, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch slides past Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith to score on a single from Nick Madrigal during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday, April 5, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch slides past Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith to score on a single from Nick Madrigal during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday, April 5, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch hits a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, April 5, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch hits a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, April 5, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, April 5, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, April 5, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Busch hit his first homer with Chicago and made a terrific defensive play for the final out of the Cubs' 9-7 victory over the Dodgers on Friday. He was acquired in a January trade with Los Angeles.

“I think Michael's going to be just a kind of consistent presence. I think that's what he is right now,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “And then just trying to stack at-bats for him in this league, and as he does that, I think his offense ... as you get comfortable with what the league can do, he's just going to get better and better.”

Busch walked and scored Chicago's second run in its five-run second inning. He batted again in the third and hit a drive into the basket in right for his third career homer.

“For a second, I thought it wasn't going to get out there,” Busch said. “Just happy to get one on the board.”

Los Angeles had runners on second and third with two out in the ninth when Busch snared James Outman’s liner to first with a diving catch.

“He made a good defensive play at the end,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I'm always rooting for him. Maybe hurt us a little bit today, but I'm always wishing the best for him.”

Busch, 26, was selected by Los Angeles in the first round of the 2019 amateur draft out of the University of North Carolina. He was the Pacific Coast League MVP in 2023, batting .323 with 27 homers and 90 RBIs in 98 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City.

He also made his major league debut with the Dodgers last year, but the infielder hit just .167 in 27 games for the NL West champions.

Unable to find a regular playing spot on the loaded Dodgers, he was shipped off to Chicago along with reliever Yency Almonte for two prospects.

“I think the organization itself, coming up through it, just had great people. Nothing but good things. Worked hard,” said Busch, who is batting .316 with two RBIs in his first seven games with Chicago.

“I was saying a little earlier, you can put in as much work as you can, but you have to have people around you that, behind the scenes, (hit) ground balls, putting in the work on video and stuff like that. Coaches and players that came up with me, they were awesome. Very thankful for it, for sure.”

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

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch reacts after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, April 5, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch reacts after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, April 5, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch signals to the dugout after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, April 5, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch signals to the dugout after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, April 5, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch celebrates in the dugout after scoring during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, April 5, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch celebrates in the dugout after scoring during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, April 5, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch slides past Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith to score on a single from Nick Madrigal during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday, April 5, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch slides past Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith to score on a single from Nick Madrigal during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday, April 5, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch hits a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, April 5, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch hits a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, April 5, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, April 5, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, April 5, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

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No. 4 Houston avenges only Big 12 loss with 69-61 win at No. 10 Texas Tech

2025-02-25 12:42 Last Updated At:12:51

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Milos Uzan scored a career-high 22 points and No. 4 Houston clinched at least a share of the Big 12 regular-season title with a 69-61 victory over 10th-ranked Texas Tech on Monday night.

J'Wan Roberts had 16 points and seven rebounds as the Cougars (24-4, 16-1 Big 12) avenged their only conference loss. It was 82-81 at home in overtime when the Red Raiders overcame the early ejection of leading scorer JT Toppin and coach Grant McCasland for their signature victory this season.

Toppin and Elijah Hawkins scored 14 points apiece for the short-handed Red Raiders (21-7, 12-5), who tried to feed off the energetic crowd despite playing just six players. Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes watched his alma mater from a seat next to the Texas Tech bench.

The Red Raiders were without two of their top three scorers in Chance McMillian and Darrion Williams, who have lower-body injuries. McMillian was sidelined for a second consecutive game.

Emanuel Sharpe scored 10 points as the Cougars eliminated Texas Tech from the Big 12 race and left No. 22 Arizona as the only team with a chance to catch them.

Houston: Became the first team to win a major conference title in its first two seasons in a league since Idaho did it in 1922-23.

Texas Tech: On top of the absence of McMillian and Williams, Toppin was nursing cramps in his calf in the second half. He still managed a double-double by grabbing 10 rebounds.

The Red Raiders were down three in the final minute when Uzan hit a 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down.

The Red Raiders shot a season-worst 30% overall and were at just 20% from 3.

Houston is home against Cincinnati on Saturday, while Texas Tech visits Kansas.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 all season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Houston forward J'Wan Roberts (13) drives to the basket against Texas Tech forward Federiko Federiko (33) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Justin Rex)

Houston forward J'Wan Roberts (13) drives to the basket against Texas Tech forward Federiko Federiko (33) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Justin Rex)

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