Cubs' Dansby Swanson swats 2 HRs, drives in 7 runs to beat Mets in opener

Field Level Media|published: Wed 24th June, 16:28 2026

Jun 24, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Javier Assad (72) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Dansby Swanson hit two homers Wednesday afternoon, including a tie-breaking three-run shot and a grand slam, as the visiting Chicago Cubs beat the New York Mets 10-3 in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.

Michael Busch hit a game-tying two-run homer in the fifth for the Cubs, who have won four of five -- a span in which they've outscored the Mets, Colorado Rockies and Toronto Blue Jays 49-25.

Michael Conforto began Chicago's comeback from a 3-0 deficit with an RBI double immediately before Busch's homer. Swanson put the Cubs ahead by homering off Mets starter Nolan McLean (4-5) in the sixth before his grand slam off right-hander Jonathan Pintaro in the eighth.

It was the second career seven-RBI game for Swanson, the other coming on July 31, 2021, when he was playing for the Atlanta Braves against the Milwaukee Brewers

Javier Assad (6-1) gave up three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five over five innings. A trio of relievers blanked the Mets on two hits over the final four frames.

Jared Young and Francisco Alvarez hit back-to-back third-inning homers for the Mets, who have lost four straight and six of their last eight. Alvarez and Carson Benge had two hits apiece.

McLean allowed six runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out nine over six innings.

The teams combined to strand five runners in scoring position in the first three-and-a-half innings before the Mets took a 3-0 lead in a span of five pitches to open the bottom of the fourth, when Bo Bichette singled ahead of the homers by Young and Alvarez.

McLean struck out the first two batters in the fifth before the Cubs tied the score in a four-pitch span. Pete Crow-Armstrong singled and raced home on Conforto's hit, after which Busch homered to right.

McLean was one out away from escaping a one-out jam in the sixth after Nico Hoerner doubled. But the right-hander gave up a single to Miguel Amaya, and Swanson followed with his first homer.

Pintaro loaded the bases via two walks and a hit batsman in the eighth to set up Swanson's grand slam.

--Field Level Media