Cubs Crush Rays Behind Assad's Scoreless Start

Crow-Armstrong and Ballesteros power Chicago to 9-2 victory in Tampa Bay

Apr. 8, 2026 at 4:54am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays, with the players and field fragmented into overlapping planes of bright colors.The Cubs' decisive victory over the Rays showcases the team's ability to win on the road against top competition.St. Petersburg Today

Javier Assad pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings and Pete Crow-Armstrong and Moises Ballesteros hit late-inning home runs to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 9-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Why it matters

The Cubs' convincing victory over the Rays, one of the American League's top teams, demonstrates the team's ability to win on the road against strong competition as they look to build momentum in the early part of the season.

The details

Assad was dominant on the mound, keeping the Rays' lineup in check throughout his outing. Crow-Armstrong and Ballesteros provided the offensive firepower with their home runs to break the game open in the late innings.

  • The game took place on Tuesday, April 8, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The players

Javier Assad

The Chicago Cubs starting pitcher who threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings in the win.

Pete Crow-Armstrong

The Chicago Cubs outfielder who hit a late-inning home run to help seal the victory.

Moises Ballesteros

The Chicago Cubs infielder who also hit a home run in the late innings to extend the Cubs' lead.

Tampa Bay Rays

The American League team that lost to the Cubs at home.

Chicago Cubs

The National League team that won convincingly on the road against the Rays.

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The takeaway

The Cubs' dominant performance on the road against a strong Rays team demonstrates their ability to win against top competition as they look to build momentum in the early part of the season.