<p>SAN FRANCISCO – It was not yet a Saturday night.</p><p>But splish, splash, Michael Busch’s home-run ball took a bath anyway.</p><p>Freed from the video-boarded-up confines of Wrigley Field, there was nothing standing in the way of the <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs" >Cubs</a>’ first baseman leaving the stadium.</p><p>Busch splashed down in McCovey Cove with a three-run homer in the Cubs’ 5-1 win over the Giants on Friday, just the fifth North Side batter ever to show off some aquatic exploits in this waterfront yard, joining Joc Pedersen (2021), Robel Garcia (2019), Ben Zobrist (2016) and Corey Patterson (2004).</p><p>“I tried to do it a couple times in BP and couldn’t really do it,” Busch said after the game. “But I’ll take the game over batting practice, for sure.”</p><p>The waterlogged roundtripper was the biggest hit in an all-around performance for the Cubs, who won consecutive games for the first time since they ended their 10-game losing streak with back-to-back victories in late May.</p><p>But bing, bang, this one was about the whole gang. Or rather, the whole game.</p><p>Timely hitting, great starting pitching and some impressive defensive plays made for the type of all-around performance that’s proved elusive during the Cubs’ rough month.</p><p>Busch’s blast was big – and buoyant – but the more impressive performance came from Javier Assad, who turned in a second straight scoreless outing in the Cubs’ latest fill-in starting effort <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/06/12/cubs-starting-pitching-injuries-depth-rotation-javier-assad-tommy-hottovy-matthew-boyd-jameson-taillon-cade-horton-colin-rea" >amid a rash of injuries in the rotation</a>.</p><p>After 6 1/3 run-free innings last time out, in relief of an injured Jameson Taillon, Assad kept the same Giants lineup quiet with six more scoreless innings Friday, allowing just three hits and a walk while striking out five.</p><p>“He pitched great,” manager Craig Counsell said.