WEST SACRAMENTO ― The Chicago Cubs refused to complain about the minor-league ballpark, their cramped clubhouse, the long walk between the clubhouse and dugout and the chilly night.
They instead decided to embrace life playing back at a Triple-A ballpark, savor the unique experience and promptly went out Monday and crushed the Athletics at Sutter Health Park.
And, hey, if it’s OK by MLB officials, they’re willing to hang around town as long as they like.
The Cubs went out and pummeled the Athletics,18-3, with 21 hits, six doubles, four home runs and a triple in front of a sellout crowd of 12,192.
They made their own history with catcher Carson Kelly becoming the first Cubs’ player to hit for the cycle since Mark Grace in 1993.
It was that kind of night.
Kelly, who stepped to the plate in the eighth inning, needing a triple for history, hit a line drive to right-center field. It caromed off the fence and bounced away from A’s center fielder JJ Bleday.
‘When I saw it ricochet,’ Kelly said, ‘I was like, ‘Oh boy. This is it right there.”
He sprinted around second base, and running as fast as his legs would carry him, went into third base standing up.
‘That was probably the fastest,’ Kelly said, ‘you’ve ever seen me run.’
He broke into a wide smile, the Cubs bench erupted, and he threw his hands high in the air.
After the game, Kelly was doused with enough beer for a college fraternity party.
‘I’ve been in the same position before where I needed a triple for the cycle,’ Kelly said. ‘And if anybody’s ever looked up my numbers, I have two triples, so odds are not in my favor, right?’
And even on those two triples, Kelly, 30, confessed, outfielders ran into the wall and fell down.
‘It’s pretty crazy,’ Cubs outfielder Ian Happ said. ‘Not a bad debut for the ballpark.’
The cycle was so unexpected that several Cubs confessed they really didn’t even have it on their minds when Kelly stepped to the plate.
‘I didn’t realize he had a chance at a cycle,’ Cubs manager Craig Counsell said, ‘but when that ball kicked off the wall, the dugout started going crazy, so I figured something was going on. They’re fun days, they’re rare days, they’re once-in-a-lifetime type days for players.’
Kelly, who took out a new bat (no, not the torpedo) for the first time, says it will now become a family heirloom while the baseball from the triple will be preserved.
‘Pretty special,’ Kelly said. ‘You know, great accomplishment, something that I never thought I would get. Just very fortunate, blessed, a lot of great teammates pumping me up, so all in all, just a special night.’’
It’s a night none of the Cubs will forget, already equaling their entire 2024 season-high for runs and hits in a season. Kelly was one of four Cubs’ players with at least three hits, including outfielder Kyle Tucker, who went 4-for-7 with a double, homer, four runs and three RBI.
“It was a fun atmosphere, I thought,’’ Counsell said. “It’s the first big-league game here. You enjoy it, you embrace it, it’s a new baseball experience.’’
“I thought the atmosphere was great,’’ Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson said. “I thought the fans were awesome. Everybody was here ready to have fun and cause a little ruckus, which is always appreciated.
“So just glad we were able to be part of opening this thing up.
“No complaints.’’
Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale