Swanson slams Mets with 2-HR, 7-RBI outburst

NEW YORK – Shortstop Dansby Swanson continues to show signs of life at the plate.

His bat proved to be the difference as the Cubs pounded the Mets, 10-3, in the first game of a day/night doubleheader at Citi Field on Wednesday afternoon.

The score was tied at 3 when Chicago took the lead in the top of the sixth inning against Mets right-hander Nolan McLean. With runners on first and third and two outs, Swanson crushed a 1-0 fastball a Statcast-projected 400 feet over the center-field wall for a three-run homer. It was his second homer in the past two games.

Swanson then went yard again two innings later. This time it was a grand slam off right-hander Jonathan Pintaro, a 418-foot blast to give Chicago a seven-run cushion. It was Swanson’s fourth career grand slam.

Swanson is the second Cubs shortstop in franchise history (since 1901) with at least two home runs and seven RBIs in a game, joining Ernie Banks, who did the trick but with three homers on Aug. 4, 1955, against the Pirates.

On June 16, Swanson had a slash line of .175/.281/.306. He never had any doubts about his skills at the plate. He just wondered when the consistency was going to turn up.

“I know I’m still capable. It’s just a matter of finding the consistent work that’s going to show up,” he said.

It finally happened this past week. In his last five games, including Wednesday’s twin-bill opener, Swanson went 8-for-18 with four homers and 14 RBIs. It shows how quickly a season can turn around within a few days.

“I’m always at my best when I can get through a place of belief and conviction in the things that I’m doing,” Swanson said. “The hitting staff has done a good job of creating that environment for me and allowing my natural self to show up and not try to think about what I need to be doing. I give them all the credit for that.”

Right-hander Javier Assad was the beneficiary of Swanson’s eruption. Assad pitched five innings, and allowed three runs on five hits. His only blemish was allowing consecutive home runs to Jared Young (a two-run shot) and Francisco Alvarez.

“I wasn’t as controlled as I normally am, but I have a great defense behind me and the offense bailed me out,” Assad said through interpreter Fredy Quevedo Jr. “The offense came back and scored. We pushed through and that was the key for the day.”

And what was it like for Assad to watch Swanson go on a hitting display? Assad was impressed. Of course he was. Swanson helped Assad earn his sixth win of the season.

“We know what kind of player he is. He is really talented,” Assad said. “He had a great game. We know the caliber of player he is, and we saw it today.”