Len Kasper said it best:

“He’s baaack.”

With one swing of the bat, Javy Báez suddenly looked like the slugger of old and the Cubs offense showed serious signs of regaining its early-season form.

Báez crushed a low-and-away pitch to right-center for a 2-run shot that put the finishing touches on a 4-run inning. It sparked the Cubs to a 9-3 win in the series opener in Detroit Monday night and marked the 11,000th win in franchise history.

It was Báez’s first homer in more than three weeks (since Aug. 1) and he added his second later in the game.

“[It felt] really good, really good,” Báez said. “I know I have been struggling, but I don’t stop working. I don’t stop trying to get better. Today we finally got the result and I had a really good game. But we’re gonna fail a lot and there is a lot of pressure with this short season and all this stuff, but the thing is to control that pressure when the big situation’s right there.”

David Bote began the 4th inning with a 455-foot smash and after an Anthony Rizzo RBI single, Báez gave the Cubs a 6-1 lead.

Bote got the scoring started for the Cubs in the 2nd with an RBI single and Nico Hoerner followed with a run-scoring knock of his own. Bote also added a 2-run single in the 9th after Báez’s second blast.

The Cubs offense has been looking to find its groove over the past few games and put 19 runners on base (12 hits, 4 walks, 3 hit-by-pitches). They also took advantage of a pair of Tigers errors on the evening.

“These guys, they continue to work and they continue to put in the effort,” David Ross said. “All around — defense, baserunning, these guys continue to work at their craft. … Guys are bought in, they’re working and I think you’re seeing it pay off.”

Alec Mills made the early lead hold up on the mound, surrendering 3 runs in 7 innings of work. He struck out 7 and gave up 7 hits, including a 2-run homer by Christin Stewart in the 7th inning.

The Cubs are now 18-10 on the season and will look to win their third straight game Tuesday night when Tyler Chatwood takes the hill. Coverage begins on Marquee Sports Network at 5 p.m.