Initial tests on Cody Bellinger’s knee promising after he exited game vs. Astros

HOUSTON — Cubs center fielder Cody Bellinger saw the ball shoot off Kyle Tucker’s bat and knew he had to get to the wall as quickly as he could.

“Once I get to the wall, it’s just all about timing the jump,” he said after the Cubs’ 6-4 loss to the Astros on Monday night.

He was right in front of the Astros’ bullpen, where the padding extends a third of the way up the fence. He leapt and made the catch at the top of the wall to end the inning. But as he came down, he got caught on the padding and landed awkwardly on his left leg.

Initial tests didn’t show any major damage in Bellinger’s knee, manager David Ross said. Bellinger was slow to get up but walked off under his own power. The Cubs will evaluate him again Tuesday.

“A little scared at first,” Bellinger said, “but as time went on, I knew that it was fine.”

Bellinger’s catch robbed Tucker, but the Cubs’ fate was sealed earlier that inning as Alex Bregman launched a two-run homer off reliever Michael Fulmer (0-3) to break a tie that had held since the fourth.

Morel does it again

With two outs in the fourth, the Cubs had two runners on and Christopher Morel at the plate. He swung at three pitches low and inside, out of the zone, fouling off the third. But then he got a high breaking ball, turned on it and drove it off a sign over the left-field stands.

“Obviously, the power’s real,” team president Jed Hoyer said before the game. “The athleticism, brings a lot of energy. And I feel like it’s a good time for us to have him up here. He’s already made a big impact.”

Taillon rights ship

Starter Jameson Taillon gave up four runs and five hits in the first inning but settled in after that, holding the Astros scoreless through the next 3 ⅔ innings. Ross pulled Taillon with two outs in the fifth, after a run-saving double play. Taillon had thrown 68 pitches.

Mancini receives ring

Before the game, the Astros held a World Series ring ceremony for Cubs first baseman Trey Mancini, whom they acquired from the Orioles midway through last season.

“It’s definitely special,” Mancini said of the honor. “It was really fun to experience that and be on that team. Even though I was only there for three months, it felt like a lot longer. Made a lot of close friends over there. It was really good to see the guys.”