Ben Rice socks 37th homer in win over Mets

Busch was hit by a pitch in the second inning, then got on base with a single in the fourth before getting his revenge with a solo homer off Nick Lodolo in the sixth. The 28-year-old first baseman is hitting .239/.350/.397 with 20 homers and 77 RBI across 680 plate appearances. It’s his third straight 20-homer campaign, but a steep drop-off from his 34-homer season in 2025.

It was a collective effort to close this one out. Ryan Zeferjahn had recorded the final out in the eighth and returned in the ninth with a three-run lead. He gave up a leadoff hit, but retired the next two batters before Rolison entered for the final out to earn the save.

Boyd worked through four scoreless innings, then gave up a pair of runs on a walk, two hits, and an error in the fifth. Boyd would end his day after five innings at 71 pitches. He struck out four batters. The 35-year-old left-hander will take a 4.06 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and a 93/37 K/BB ratio across 119 2/3 innings into a start against the Red Sox in Boston on Friday.

Lodolo worked around a walk in the first inning, then gave up a run on a double, a hit-by-pitch, and a sacrifice fly in the second. After two more scoreless innings, the Cubs brought a second run home on two hits in the fifth before Michael Busch took Lodolo deep for a solo homer in the sixth. Lodolo would return for a scoreless seventh, going seven innings in back-to-back starts. He struck out just one batter while generating eight groundouts. The 28-year-old left-hander will take a 5.04 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and an 80/44 K/BB ratio across 103 2/3 innings into a start against the Blue Jays in Toronto on Friday.

Martínez returned to the lineup for the first time since Monday and enjoyed an incredible day at the plate, starting with a two-run homer off Jacob Lopez in the first inning. He then doubled and scored in the third before taking Chris Roycroft deep for a solo blast in the fourth for his second home run of the game. Martínez collected a fourth hit and fourth RBI with a single in the sixth. The 24-year-old outfielder is hitting .255/.292/.467 with 17 homers, 47 runs scored, 57 RBI, and 11 steals across 390 plate appearances.

DeLauter put the Guardians on the board with a three-run blast off Jacob Lopez in the first inning. It was just the third home run off a left-handed pitcher for DeLauter. He later singled and scored in the third. The 24-year-old outfielder has hit an outstanding .290/.363/.458 with 15 homers, 59 runs scored, 65 RBI, and 11 steals across 531 plate appearances.

Walton drove in a run on a base hit in the first inning and stole second for his third steal of the season. He then collected his second RBI with a single in the third before slugging a two-run homer in the fifth. The 32-year-old second baseman is hitting .269/.367/.458 with eight homers, 35 runs scored, and 29 RBI across 247 plate appearances.

Bibee labored through a long first inning, giving up two runs on four hits. He bounced back with a scoreless second. Two more hits brought a third run home for the A’s in the third inning before plating a fourth run in the fourth. Bibee couldn’t hang in there for five innings despite 11 runs of support, as Donovan Walton knocked him from the game with a two-run homer. The 27-year-old right-hander ends the day with a 4.35 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and a 142/54 K/BB ratio across 182 innings.

Lopez got into trouble right away, putting two runners on for Chase DeLauter, who took him deep for a three-run blast before recording an out. Angel Martínez followed with a two-run homer to make it a five-run opening frame. The Guardians did not let up, bringing four more runs in to score on five hits in the third. Lopez would be relieved with two outs at 63 pitches with one strikeout. The 28-year-old left-hander will take a 5.60 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, and a 108/56 K/BB ratio across 117 1/3 innings into a start against the Astros in Sacramento on Friday.

Jordan Montgomery replaced him in the second inning against the Blue Jays. If Quantrill can’t start next week, Nathan Eovaldi could go in his spot.