11 years in, three-homer, seven-RBI game is a first for Bregman

WASHINGTON – Alex Bregman felt like he found something with his swing in the hours leading up to Tuesday night’s game against the Nationals. When the Cubs third baseman had a pair of long plate appearances and then launched a home run, it supported what he was feeling.

Clearly, that confidence carried over into Wednesday night, too.

Bregman launched three home runs to power a 12-6 win over the Nationals, driving in seven runs in the process. Both the home run total and RBIs marked career bests for the veteran third baseman. The four homers Bregman has belted over the past two days at Nationals Park are his most in a two-game span in his career.

With a pair of walks in his first two plate appearances of the night, Bregman became the first player in Cubs history to collect at least two free passes as part of a three-homer game. Will Smith of the Dodgers was the last player to enjoy a game with two walks and three blasts, doing so on July 5, 2024.

For the Cubs, Bregman became the 29th player to connect for three home runs in a game – a feat that has been achieved 44 times overall in the franchise’s history.

Bregman’s power onslaught began in the fifth inning, when he launched a 1-1 sweeper from Nationals righty Jake Bird out to left-center for a three-run shot that pushed the Cubs to a 4-1 lead. Bregman went deep again in the sixth – this time off a first-pitch slider from Yovanny Cruz. The trifecta was completed in the eighth, when Bregman drilled an elevated 2-2 fastball from Trevor Williams out to left-center for a two-run homer.

The outburst on Wednesday night came as part of an extended hot streak for Bregman, who spent the first few months of this season searching for consistency. Over his past 16 games, dating back to July 27, he has slashed .388/.419/.776 with six home runs, eight doubles, 17 RBIs, seven walks and 19 runs scored in 74 plate appearances.