Michael Busch, Cody Bellinger highlight Dodgers' regrets in Cubs opener

This one stung a bit for the Dodgers. On Monday night in Hollywood, the Dodgers welcomed two former players back to the stadium for the first time this season. Although they had differing careers with Los Angeles, Michael Busch and Cody Bellinger made the loss hurt equally.

The Cubs crashed to a 10-4 victory over the Dodgers behind monster games from Busch and Bellinger to open the three-game set. The Cubs took two of three contests back in April when the Dodgers traveled to Wrigley Field

Bellinger, 28, is signed to a one-year, $30 million deal in his second stint with the Cubs after a rough free agency with Los Angeles in 2022. Busch, 26, is also inked to a one-year contract this season and has been enjoying a successful first year as an everyday player.

On Monday, Bellinger raked in a 2-for-4 effort at the plate with a home run, three runs batted in, two runs scored and a walk. His two-run home run came off of Walker Buehler in the first inning to break the scoreless tie. It was his first career at-bat against Buehler, taking him deep on the first pitch he saw.

Former Dodgers Cody Bellinger, Michael Busch dominate in LA

Bellinger also made a sweet sliding grab for the first out of the ninth inning on a well-struck hit from Andy Pages. The 2019 NL MVP sure enjoyed himself in his return to Dodger Stadium, and he let it be known.

"It always feels good coming back. I have a lot of good memories here, so it was just a fun, fun game," Bellinger told Marquee Sports Network after the game.

Busch, who did not quite have the same experience as Bellinger in a Dodgers uniform, collected his second four-hit game of the season. He went 4-for-5 with a home run, three runs batted in and three runs scored to pour it on for the Cubs.

Busch had been struggling in September. He entered Monday's game batting 1-for-18 this month. Perhaps he just needed the motivation of crushing his former team to turn things back on. Busch has walloped 17 home runs this season behind an OPS+ of 116, which vastly opposes his 46 reading in 27 games with Los Angeles last season.