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Kyle Tucker Breaks Out of Slump in Cubs’ Rout of angels

ANAHEIM — Maybe all Kyle Tucker needed was a trip to Angel Stadium.

After going 25 games⁤ without ⁢a home run – his longest stretch⁤ since ⁣the first 27‍ games of his career — the All-Star ⁢right fielder hit his second adn third within 24 hours, kick-starting the Cubs’ 12-1 rout of the Angels on Saturday night.

“This is the nature of the game,” manager Craig Counsell said. “We don’t want slumps. We hate slumps.They’re⁢ mentally‍ exhausting⁤ to go through, but ⁣they happen. Kyle will⁤ be better moving forward because of this, but it’s part of the game that happens and you got to get through it. He’s a great‍ player.⁢ He works hard to figure it out and ⁣get back‍ on track.

“We need him to ⁣do it, and he’s done so.”

After posting a slash line of .291/.395/.537 with 17 home runs and 52 RBIs through June and being named an All-Star for the fourth consecutive year,‍ Tucker’s numbers nosedived.

Tucker slashed .189/.325/.235 from July 1 through Aug. 18 while playing through a hairline fracture in his right hand — only recently⁤ revealed. He sat in three straight games ⁢earlier this week⁣ as part of a⁤ mental⁣ reset.

“Mentally, he needed some days,” ⁣Counsell ⁤said. “it wasn’t ‍a physical thing, it⁣ wasn’t a mechanical thing. At that point mentally as a player, you ‍just need some days where‍ you’re watching the game and don’t have ⁣to worry ⁢about performing.”

Tucker kept it going on Saturday. He felt like he was late ⁣on ⁢his ‍swing⁢ after a flyout ⁢to left field in the first inning. So he made⁤ a mental note to start early ‍next time.

The result: He jumped on a sinker down and in ⁢from Halos starter Victor Mederos, driving the ball a statcast-projected 399 feet to right field for a two-run homer to put the Cubs on the board in the top of the third inning.

Three innings later, Tucker did ⁣it again.