Chicago Cubs slugger Cody Bellinger exited early from Tuesday's game against the Houston Astros after suffering a right rib contusion. Bellinger sustained the injury when he ran into the wall while tracking a fly ball in the fourth inning.
Riding a seven-game hitting streak coming into play Tuesday, Bellinger got the party started early for the Cubs. He extended his streak to eight games with a massive 428-foot two-run homer in the first inning to give the Cubs a 2-0 lead.
In the fourth inning, Bellinger attempted to catch a fly ball off the bat of Yainer Diaz in the left-center alley. He collided with the brick and ivy wall and couldn't make the catch, resulting in the injury. As we know, the ivy hasn’t fully grown out yet in April. The lack of ivy only adds to the wall’s unforgiving nature, so any outfielder colliding with the wall in the early part of the season is in for a world of hurt.
Later in the game, the Marquee Sports Network broadcast showed Bellinger working to stretch out his right side/upper back as he was pulled from the game. In the seventh inning, Alexander Canario took Bellinger's place in the lineup and became the new right fielder, moving Mike Tauchman to center field.
On a positive note, Bellinger was able to stay in the game for a couple of extra innings after initially colliding with the wall. Additionally, x-rays came back negative.
"It’s a very dull pain, even now," Bellinger said of his injury. "That’s a good sign. At first, I didn’t feel anything....We're going to have to check on the wall. See if the wall is ok first."
Manager Craig Counsell said the Cubs must wait to see how Bellinger is feeling Wednesday before determining any potential absence.
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