## Dansby Swanson Swats Key Homer in Cubs' Rout of A's ### Swanson's 3-Run Blast Lifts Chicago to 7-1 Victory **Oakland, California** - Dansby Swanson's third-inning home run proved to be the game-changer as the Chicago Cubs cruised to a 7-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Friday night at RingCentral Coliseum. Swanson's towering shot off A's starter James Kaprielian scored Nico Hoerner and Patrick Wisdom, giving the Cubs a 3-0 lead. The Chicago shortstop finished the night with two hits, including his first home run as a Cub. After Swanson's homer, the Cubs continued to pour it on, scoring four more runs off Kaprielian in the fourth inning. Wisdom drove in a pair with a single, while Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ added RBI singles of their own. Meanwhile, Cubs starter Keegan Thompson turned in a solid outing, allowing just one run on four hits over six innings. The right-hander struck out eight batters and walked none. The Athletics' lone run came in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly by Christian Bethancourt. With the victory, the Cubs improved to 9-11 on the season, while the Athletics fell to 12-10. ### Swanson's Home Run Key to Cubs' Success Swanson's home run in the third inning was a pivotal moment in the game. The Cubs had already loaded the bases with two outs, and Swanson came through with a big hit to give his team a commanding lead. "That was a huge hit for us," said Cubs manager David Ross. "It really gave us a lot of momentum, and we were able to build on it from there." Swanson's home run was also his first as a Cub, and it came in his first game at RingCentral Coliseum. "It was a great feeling," said Swanson. "I'm just glad I could contribute to the team's win." ### Cubs Pitching Staff Dominates Athletics The Cubs' pitching staff turned in a dominant performance against the Athletics. Thompson was excellent in his six innings of work, and the bullpen followed suit, allowing just one hit over the final three innings. "Our pitching staff was outstanding tonight," said Ross. "They kept the A's offense in check all night, and that made my job a lot easier." Thompson was particularly impressive, striking out eight batters and walking none. The right-hander has now allowed just one run over his last two starts. "I'm just trying to stay in the zone and make it tough on hitters," said Thompson. "I'm glad I was able to help the team win tonight." ### Outlook for Cubs and Athletics The Cubs will look to continue their winning ways when they face the Athletics again on Saturday night. Kyle Hendricks will start for Chicago, while Cole Irvin will take the mound for Oakland. The Athletics will be looking to avoid a sweep and get back on track after losing two straight games. "We need to forget about tonight and come back strong tomorrow," said A's manager Mark Kotsay. "We have a good team, and we're confident that we can turn things around."
Komentar