ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Alex Bregman hit two home runs in his second game back from facial fractures as the Chicago Cubs beat the Boston Red Sox 6–2 on Sunday, closing the regular season with an encouraging performance from a key postseason hitter.
Bregman went 4-for-4 with a double, a walk and four RBIs at Tropicana Field. The neutral-site finale followed the disruption to the series caused by severe weather in Boston.
The performance came one week after Bregman was struck in the face by a foul ball while waiting on deck in Cincinnati. He suffered multiple fractures in his left cheek but returned as Chicago’s designated hitter before the end of the regular season.
Bregman’s home runs came in the first and third innings, both against Tanner Houck. He later added a single and an RBI double, reaching base in all five plate appearances and finishing the season with 28 home runs.
The immediate significance for Chicago is his availability for the National League Wild Card Series against San Diego. The Cubs begin the best-of-three series Tuesday at Petco Park, with every game scheduled in San Diego.
Bregman’s defensive assignment remains a separate question from his ability to hit. Manager Craig Counsell has used him at designated hitter since his return, limiting his exposure while the facial injuries continue to improve. A return to third base had not been settled at the end of the regular season.
The distinction matters to Chicago’s lineup construction. Keeping Bregman at DH preserves his bat while requiring another player to handle third, whereas a return to the field would reopen the designated-hitter spot for other options.
Bregman completed his first regular season with the Cubs batting .265, with 33 doubles and 93 RBIs in 155 games. Sunday’s two home runs gave him his highest total since his 41-homer season in 2019.
Chicago will now move from its final regular-season outing directly into a short series against a Padres team hosting the rematch of last year’s Wild Card meeting. Bregman’s final-day production gives the Cubs a positive answer about his swing, even as they continue to assess where he can safely play.
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