Bellinger's two-run homer lifts Cubs over Blue Jays

TORONTO — Cody Bellinger's two-run homer gave Chicago an early lead and the Cubs never looked back in a 6-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday.

Nico Hoerner also had a home run in the first inning for Chicago (60-56). Seiya Suzuki had a two-run double and Mike Tauchman added an RBI single in a three-run fourth inning.

Javier Assad (2-2) allowed one run on four hits over seven innings with two strikeouts.

Brandon Belt had a home run late in the game for Toronto (65-53) and Alejandro Kirk drove in a run with a single.

José Berríos (9-8) gave up six runs — four earned — on nine hits, striking out three over 4 1/3 innings.

Bowden Francis, Hagen Danner and Jay Jackson came on in relief.

The Cubs jumped on Berríos early in the game.

After getting a fly out from Tauchman, Chicago's leadoff hitter, Berríos gave up a homer to Hoerner. He took an 86.2 m.p.h. change-up 389 feet, just over the wall in left field. Ian Happ then singled before Bellinger smashed a 359-foot no-doubter to deep right field.

Bellinger's 18th home run of the season came on the first pitch he saw — also a change-up at a nearly identical 86.3 m.p.h. — for a 3-0 Chicago lead.

Berríos settled down for two scoreless innings, but then gave up three runs in the fourth.

Suzuki's double to left field scored Dansby Swanson and Jeimer Candelairo. Tauchman then singled to deep centre field to bring home Suzuki for the 6-0 lead.

A bloop single by Kirk in the bottom of the fourth scored Cavan Biggio from second to get Toronto on the board.

Belt continued to chip at the Cubs' lead in the eighth, driving the ball 406 feet and over the centre-field wall. His 11th of the season made it 6-2 and breathed some life into the Rogers Centre crowd of 41,814.

Danner made his Major League Baseball debut, coming on in relief in the ninth inning. After getting one out, however, he left the mound with an undisclosed injury to be replaced by Jackson.

MANOAH IN THE MINORS — Right-handed starter Alek Manoah was sent to the minors for the second time this season before Friday's game. Manoah was sent to triple-A Buffalo to continue to work on his delivery. Right-handed pitcher Hagen Danner was recalled from the Bisons in a corresponding move.

BAUTISTA HONOURED — Former Toronto slugger Jose Bautista re-signed with the team on a one-day contract. That will allow him to officially retire as a Blue Jay. His name will be added to the Level of Excellence at Rogers Centre in a pre-game ceremony on Saturday.

ON DECK — Chris Bassitt (11-6) will take the mound for Toronto in Saturday's matinee.

Justin Steele (13-3) is scheduled to pitch for the Cubs.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 11, 2023.