Shortstop Addison Russell’s home run in his first major-league at-bat in more than six weeks Saturday was pretty wild.
But his performance in the Cubs’ 4-3 victory Sunday against the Cardinals — Russell’s first start since going on the disabled list with a strained right foot — blew that little (OK, big) long ball out of the water.
In nearly every way imaginable, Russell delivered. Defensively, he looked like his old slick self when he ranged to his right to field a liner by Yadier Molina on a short hop in the second inning before throwing a dart to first for the out. Two innings later, Russell calmly picked another hot smash by Molina out of the dirt and started a 6-4-3 double play. In all, he was perfect in four chances.
Russell’s day at the plate couldn’t have been more encouraging. In his first time up against Cardinals starter Lance Lynn, he came back from an 0-2 count to walk, part of a rally that led to the first run of the game. Uncharacteristically patient, Russell walked twice more and lined a single to right against reliever John Brebbia.
‘‘That was a lot of fun at the plate today,’’ Russell said. ‘‘Mentally, I think I’m right there.’’
Russell said his favorite moment of the game was scoring from second — finishing with a headfirst slide — on a hit by Ben Zobrist in the fourth.
‘‘That felt good,’’ he said. ‘‘All the boxes are checked right now. [I’m] definitely good moving forward.’’
Free Willie
Catcher Willson Contreras missed a day of work while serving a suspension for his mask-spiking actions in the opening game of the series.
Major League Baseball initially handed down a two-game suspension to Contreras, who was ejected with starting pitcher John Lackey from the Cubs’ victory Friday.
Contreras played Saturday after appealing MLB’s initial ruling. When the suspension was cut in half, the Cubs decided to have Contreras, 25, sit out the series finale.
‘‘Of course, it’s good news,’’ manager Joe Maddon said before the game. ‘‘We’ll get the one game over with and move on from there, get it off his mind.
‘‘Obviously, they reviewed everything and determined that one was good enough. And we’re very appreciative of that.’’
Uh, welcome home?
Maddon is no fan of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, where the Cubs will take on the Rays in a two-game series beginning Tuesday. He managed the Rays from 2006 to 2014.
‘‘I just thought it was bad form where they put it in the first place,’’ he said. ‘‘Whenever I’d pop off about that, I’d get in trouble. And I’m just telling you, it’s the truth. If it had been built in a different spot to begin with, they probably would’ve been better off regarding people being able to get there after work. . . .
‘‘I’ve always thought it should’ve been in Tampa. I mean, I couldn’t say that at the time [because] they would get upset at me when I said things like that. But it’s true.’’
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Email: sgreenberg@suntimes.com
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