Busch and Bellinger light up their old team in Cubs' 10-4 win over NL West-leading Dodgers

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michael Busch went 4 for 5 with a homer and scored three runs, Cody Bellinger had three RBIs including a two-run homer, and the Chicago Cubs beat the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers 10-4 on Monday night.

The Cubs' offense broke out for 16 hits — with every player getting at least one — coming off a series loss to the AL East-leading New York Yankees in which they had a combined seven hits and two runs in three games.

Bellinger and Busch gave the Cubs a 3-0 lead with two outs in the first inning against their old team.

“It was pretty awesome,” said Busch, a rookie who was drafted by the Dodgers in 2019 and traded to the Cubs last offseason. “Just trying to put a ton of pressure on them every inning.”

Bellinger slugged a first-pitch, two-run homer off Walker Buehler (1-5) that also scored Ian Happ, who singled leading off. The ball traveled 430 feet — halfway up the right-field pavilion — for his longest homer of the season and drew cheers from Chicago fans in the crowd of 50,495. Busch added an RBI single.

Bellinger smiled as he circled the bases, taking in the scene on a 94-degree night with a strong, hot wind blowing the flags in center field.

“A lot of good memories here. I love the fans and the people and the stadium,” he said. “It’s a weird feeling but it’s a cool feeling and I always love coming back.”

Busch went deep down the left-field line with two strikes in the fourth, extending Chicago’s lead to 4-0.

“He’s been unbelievable for us,” Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks said. “Obviously, the pro at-bat every single time. Huge game that was really fun to see. He’s been a cornerstone for us.”

Hendricks walked the bases loaded with two outs in the third — when Shohei Ohtani stole his 47th base of the season — but Max Muncy lined out to Busch at first base on the first pitch to end the threat.

Hendricks allowed two runs and four hits in 4 1/3 innings. Keegan Thompson (2-1) worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief for the win.

“Every single at-bat, two-strike hits, adding onto the lead, bullpen coming in, some unbelievable plays on defense, all around just a really good game for us,” Hendricks said. “We know we've got to pile up some wins.”

Buehler gave up five runs and nine hits in five innings. He struck out four and walked one.

“I screwed us from the jump. Obviously three runs in the first, it kind of sucked the energy out of the building,” he said. “The first inning has been a weird thing for me this year. It's a lot to ask of the rest of our guys to dig me out of a hole every game.”

The Dodgers scored twice in the fifth on Mookie Betts ’ RBI single and Muncy’s bases-loaded sacrifice fly to trail 4-2. Hendricks left after loading the bases for the second time.

The Cubs extended their lead to 7-2 in the sixth on Busch's RBI single and Miguel Amaya's two-run single off reliever Anthony Banda with two outs. Busch, like Bellinger, finished with three RBIs.

The Dodgers closed to 7-4 in the seventh on Betts' two-run homer and had the potential tying run at the plate before Shawn Armstrong struck out Gavin Lux to end the inning.

Busch scored on Pete Crow-Armstrong's sacrifice fly in the eighth, and Bellinger added an RBI single in a two-run ninth.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Cubs: LHP Justin Steele (tendinitis) will throw a bullpen on the road trip if all goes well.

Dodgers: OF Teoscar Hernández (bruised foot) did on-field drills with the hope he can return Tuesday. ... LHP Clayton Kershaw (big toe) worked off a portable throwing ramp in tennis shoes. ... RHP Tyler Glasnow (tendinitis) will throw a bullpen Tuesday and if all goes well a simulated game Friday in Atlanta. ... RHP Brusdar Graterol (hamstring) is expected to be active Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Cubs: LHP Shota Imanaga (12-3, 2.99 ERA) combined with two relievers on the 18th no-hitter in franchise history last week against Pittsburgh.

Dodgers: RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (6-2, 2.92) starts Tuesday after missing nearly three months with a rotator cuff strain. He's expected to throw three innings.

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

Chicago Cubs' Seiya Suzuki, left, scores on a sacrifice fly by Isaac Paredes as Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith, right, takes a late throw and home plate umpire Todd Tichenor washes during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas can't get to a ball hit for a two RBI single by Chicago Cubs' Miguel Amaya during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Members of the Chicago Cubs congratulate each other after the Cubs defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-4 in a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Smoke from wildfires can be seen behind Dodger Stadium prior to a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Beth Harris)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Chicago Cubs' Cody Ballinger, left, is congratulated by Dansby Swanson after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Chicago Cubs' Cody Bellinger rounds third after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Coming off a poor season and playing with a young team, the New York Giants needed a lot of things to go right to turn things around in Brian Daboll’s third season.

So far they are heading the wrong way. The Minnesota Vikings outplayed them in a season-opening 28-6 loss and the Giants fell 21-18 to the Washington Commanders on Sunday.

The Giants have not made the playoffs after starting 0-2 since Tom Coughlin led New York to a championship in the 2007 season.

This is New York's ninth 0-2 start since 2013 and none has turned out well. The best of that bunch was a 7-9 finish in '13.

“So again, what really happened 10 years ago or last year, like I’ve always said, really has no bearing on anything this season,” Daboll said Monday. “I thought we made some improvements in a lot of areas. Need to continue to improve on the things that we’re not doing well at this time and focus on the Cleveland Browns.”

The Giants almost won, despite allowing Jayden Daniels and the Commanders to run up 425 yards and hold the ball for more than 37 minutes.

Giants kicker Graham Gano injured a hamstring on the opening kickoff and did not play the rest of the game.

Punter Jamie Gillan missed an extra point on the first touchdown and the offense failed on a couple of 2-point attempts.

Rookie Malik Nabers dropped a fourth down pass and Washington's Austin Seibert kicked a game-winning field goal on the final play.

Daboll actually has been through an 0-2 start and got a Super Bowl ring. He was an assistant under Bill Belichick in 2001 when the Patriots started 1-3 and won their first Super Bowl.

The offense rebounded after failing to score a touchdown in the loss to Vikings. Daniel Jones (16 of 28 for 178 yards) threw touchdown passes to Nabers and Wan'Dale Robinson. Running back Devin Singletary carried 16 times for 95 yards and a touchdown. The offensive line, which gave up five sacks last week, allowed one.

The run defense has struggled, giving up an average of 163 yards in two games. The Commanders ran for 215 yards Sunday led by Brian Robinson, who gained 133 yards with an 7.8-yard average.

Inside linebacker Micah McFadden led the team with 13 tackles and rookie cornerback Dru Phillips added 12, including seven solo. Each had a sack.

Second-year receiver Jalin Hyatt. The third-round draft pick in 2023 got a lot of time in training camp with the first team, but he has not been targeted this season in limited time. The bulk of the first-team reps for the wide receivers has gone to Nabers and veteran Darius Slayton.

Gano, who entered the game with a groin injury, pulled his hamstring chasing Austin Ekeler on a kickoff return and is out for a couple of weeks. Practice squad kicker Jude McAtamney will compete against a few free agents for the job this week.

21-49. Nabers become the youngest player in NFL history with at least 10 receptions, 100 receiving yards and a touchdown catch in a game. His mark is 21 years and 49 days. Gern Nagler was 21 years and 251 days old on Nov. 1, 1953, when he did it for the Chicago Cardinals.

Travel to Cleveland to face the Browns, who are coming off a road win in Jacksonville.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

New York Giants running back Devin Singletary (26) celebrates his touchdown run against the Washington Commanders during the first half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) runs after a catch against the Washington Commanders during the first half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) looks to pass against the Washington Commanders during the first half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Washington Commanders place kicker Austin Seibert (3) kicks a field goal against the New York Giants' Dru Phillips (22) during the first half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) throws a pass against the Washington Commanders during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson, right, runs into the end zone for a touchdown as Washington Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil, left, defends during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (17) celebrates his touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) throws an incomplete pass past Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu (4) on a two point conversion attempt during the first half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) reacts after missing a pass on fourth down against the Washington Commanders late in the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)