WATCH: Rafael Ortega hits three home runs in same game, driving in all of Cubs' runs

On Sunday, Rafael Ortega went 4-for-4 and recorded his first career multi-homer performance.

by Cole Little - Senior Writer - Sun Aug 01 16:54:46 GMT-05:00 2021

WASHINGTON — Making the most of his new role as the Chicago Cubs' leadoff hitter, center fielder Rafael Ortega hit three home runs on Sunday, giving him four homers in two days. In the midst a dismal period of losing and trading away star players, Ortega has been one of the few bright spots for the Cubs as of late, and he experienced a career outing on Sunday. He now has six dingers and 15 RBIs on the season.

Entering Sunday's contest, Ortega had not only never produced a big league performance with three extra-base hits, let alone three home runs, but had also never even homered in the majors. The Cubs fell to the Washington Nationals 6-5 at Nationals Park on a walkoff home run in the bottom of the ninth, but Ortega stole the show by driving in all five of the Cubs' runs via his three bombs. Ortega, who was responsible for all but one of the North Siders' five hits on the afternoon, opened the game with a 391-footer, his first career long ball, and later hit a 357-foot two-run blast in the sixth and a game-tying 392-foot two-run jack in the eighth to tie the franchise record for the most round-trippers hit by a player in the same game.

Raffy ?? pic.twitter.com/Pib3PlYS0U
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) August 1, 2021

#Cubs 1 @ #Nationals 0 [T1-0o]:

Rafael Ortega homers (4): fly ball to RCF (solo)

Hit: 391ft, 101.6mph, 23°??

Pitch: 93.8mph Sinker (RHP Erick Fedde, 12)
— Home Run Tracker (@DingerTracker) August 1, 2021

Rafael Ortega's 2nd home run of the game and 3rd in his last six at-bats. pic.twitter.com/OK0UziOiir
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 1, 2021

First career multi-homer game for Rafael Ortega ?? pic.twitter.com/iaozh5yuBO
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) August 1, 2021

#Cubs 3 @ #Nationals 4 [T6-0o]:

Rafael Ortega homers (5): fly ball to RF (2-run)

Hit: 357ft, 103.1mph, 40°
[2nd of game]

Pitch: 93.5mph Sinker (RHP Erick Fedde, 13)
— Home Run Tracker (@DingerTracker) August 1, 2021

Rafael Ortega has six home runs this season.

Half of them were hit today. pic.twitter.com/nPO1YxAYXy
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 1, 2021

Ortega, AGAIN!

Three home runs today to match a Cubs franchise record. pic.twitter.com/HFVIFyxBu3
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) August 1, 2021

#Cubs 5 @ #Nationals 5 [T8-1o]:

Rafael Ortega homers (6): fly ball to RF (2-run)

Hit: 392ft, 108.9mph, 30°??
[3rd of game]

Pitch: 88.1mph Changeup (RHP Wander Suero, 8)
— Home Run Tracker (@DingerTracker) August 1, 2021