After weeks of frustration fueled by strikeouts and line-drive outs, Javier Baez provided the production the Cubs have patiently waited for.
Baez's three-hit performance Monday night included a two-run home run to highlight a four-run fourth-inning rally and a solo shot in the ninth that enabled the Chicago Cubs to coast to a 9-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.
It was the 11,000th victory in franchise history, and it marked only the second time since Aug. 11-12 that the Cubs won consecutive games.
Baez, who was 5-for-41 with 19 strikeouts during the Cubs' recently concluded 12-game homestand, hit the two-run homer off left-handed reliever Tyler Alexander in the fourth an estimated 425 feet. It was his first home run since Aug. 1 and marked his first multihit game since Aug. 11 in Cleveland.
Baez capped his breakout game by smacking a slider from sidearmer John Schreiber well over the left-field wall. David Bote chipped in with three hits and four RBIs, including a two-run single in the ninth.
In recent games, the Cubs (18-10) had been guilty of pulling too many pitches. But Baez led a cast of hitters who hit to all fields. The Cubs were 4-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
Bote and Nico Hoerner, the Nos. 8-9 hitters, hit back-to-back two-out RBI singles to center to give the Cubs a 2-0 lead in the second.
Bote sparked the four-run rally in the fourth with a home run off Tigers starter Casey Mize, the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft. Bote's homer traveled an estimated 455 feet.
A throwing error by third baseman Willi Castro led to an RBI single by Anthony Rizzo, who collected only his third hit in 20 at-bats this season with runners in scoring position.
That was plenty of run support for Cubs starter Alec Mills, who rebounded from a rough outing against the Cardinals on Wednesday in which he allowed a grand slam to Matt Carpenter and six runs in 3? innings.
Mills (3-2) ran into trouble in the third, prompting manager David Ross to have Colin Rea warm up. But after walking Miguel Cabrera, Mills retired the next 11 batters.
Mills allowed a two-run home run to Christin Stewart in the seventh, but he provided enough length to preserve most of the bullpen after Jeremy Jeffress worked 1? innings Sunday.
Ryan Tepera extended his scoreless streak to 9? innings with a scoreless eighth. Tepera has struck out 19 in 12? innings this season.
