ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — For a brief moment on Tuesday, Tropicana Field was very friendly to right-hander Javier Assad.
After recording two outs in the sixth inning, manager Craig Counsell walked from the dugout to bring in left-hander Hoby Milner.
But as Assad exited the field, Cubs fans rose to their feet for a thunderous standing ovation, just like a day game at Wrigley Field.
A once promising season had turned dour with news of Cade Horton, arguably the team’s best pitcher, undergoing season-ending elbow surgery. Amid the team’s lackluster start, Cubs fans needed a reprieve. They needed something to cheer for. They needed to celebrate the Cubs’ 9-2 win over the Rays.
“That was f—ing sick,” center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong said of Assad’s performance.
The offense showed up, stringing together quality at-bats and cashing in on opportunities and slugging for power. But Assad led the charge.
Assad threw 5 ⅔ scoreless innings, striking out three and walking two in his 2026 debut. The Cubs needed Assad’s steadying performance.
Given all the pitching injuries ailing the Cubs, Assad not only had to have a lengthy outing to preserve the bullpen, but it needed to be quality as the Cubs looked to escape the malaise they were in.
“Javy has done that many times,” Counsell said. “He stepped up when the team has needed, and we certainly need it right now and he delivered.”
In the fifth, with Junior Caminero and Chandler Simpson on first and second with no outs, he needed to summon his best stuff. On a 1-2 count to Cedric Mullins, Assad got the former All-Star to strike out on a nasty changeup. Then he forced Nick Fortes to ground into a double play to end the inning and the Rays’ best chance at scoring.
As he left the mound, Assad showcased his trademark fiery personality, gave a fist pump toward the Cubs dugout and screamed in glee.
“It’s really neat, I was not expecting that,” Assad said. “There were a lot of fans out there, but it’s a really good feeling, even if we’re not at home, to have the crowd here.”
For one day, the Cubs could forget about the injury news and just enjoy a win.
Bregman’s breakout
The underlying numbers portended a big Alex Bregman game sooner than later, and he delivered on Tuesday. Bregman was 3-for-5 in the Cubs’ win. Though there wasn’t any consternation about his lagging production, it felt good for Bregman to see balls find grass.
“Just trying to focus on swinging a good pitch, cleaning up the bat path,” Bregman said. “Felt like as a team, we did a really good job today of continuing to put pressure on all game long, and a lot of guys had big days.”
Bregman also credited Assad, whose quick, efficient innings got the defense off their feet quickly.
Shaw’s hot streak
April has been kind to Matt Shaw. Entering play Tuesday, Shaw was batting .250/.294/.625 with a .919 OPS.
Shaw went 2-for-5 with an RBI and is on a three-game hitting streak.
Offensive breakthrough
• Crow-Armstrong slugged his first homer of the season and went 3-for-5.
• Moises Ballesteros went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and hit his first homer of the season.
• Nico Hoerner went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.