According to Cubs manager Craig Counsell, Chicago wrapped up a gruelling stretch of 17 games without an off-day with a 12-5 record, capped by a 10-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Sunday. Left-hander Matthew Boyd pitched seven solid innings to earn his eighth win of the season, helping the North Siders navigate a heavy scheduling block driven largely by a surging starting rotation.
Matthew Boyd Leads Cubs Rotation Through Gruelling Stretch
Matthew Boyd limited the Royals to two runs on five hits and three walks over seven frames, securing his sixth quality start of the year according to Bleed Cubbie Blue reporting. Boyd surrendered a two-run homer to Starling Marte in the fourth inning but otherwise navigated out of multiple jams. With the performance, Boyd improved to 8-1 with a 3.50 ERA on the season. Since returning from left knee surgery and activation from the injured list in late June, the veteran left-hander has gone 6-0 with a 2.43 ERA across nine outings.
“It speaks to the quality of this group,” Boyd said. “I think our best baseball is still ahead of us. We’re playing great right now as a squad collectively.”
Counsell noted that starting pitching has been the primary engine enabling the club to survive the demanding 17-game run. Dating back to July 4, Chicago starters lead the National League with a 2.91 ERA while logging a Major League-best 176 1/3 innings.
Ian Happ Snaps Slump With 20th Home Run
Ian Happ broke out of an 0-for-22 hitless funk over the weekend, going 5-for-7 across the series. After hitting a home run on Saturday night, the switch-hitter added a two-run blast in the sixth inning on Sunday to break the game open. The shot marked Happ’s 20th home run of the season, making him the 11th player in franchise history to record at least six separate seasons with 20 or more homers, joining club legends like Ryne Sandberg, Andre Dawson, and Alfonso Soriano.
“He can carry the team hitting left-handed, and he has done that at times this year,” Counsell said regarding Happ prior to the weekend series. “So, that’s going to happen again. … He’ll get it going.”
Balanced Offense Ties Season High With 18 Hits
The Cubs matched a season high with 18 hits against Royals pitching, leaning on contact early before utilizing extra-base power later in the contest. Bleed Cubbie Blue noted that Michael Busch collected three hits and scored three runs, while Alex Bregman added multiple RBI singles and Miguel Amaya launched a three-run homer in the seventh inning. Chicago’s bats manufactured six of their first seven runs with two outs against sinkerballer Randy Dobnak before pulling away.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of the Cubs vs. Royals game?
The Chicago Cubs defeated the Kansas City Royals 10-2 on Sunday at Kauffman Stadium.
How did Matthew Boyd perform in the game?
Matthew Boyd pitched seven solid innings, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks to earn his eighth win of the year.
How many consecutive games did the Cubs play without a break?
According to Craig Counsell, the team completed a stretch of 17 games in a row without an off-day, finishing that span with a 12-5 record.
How many home runs does Ian Happ have this season?
Ian Happ hit his 20th home run of the season during Sunday’s victory, marking his sixth career season with at least 20 blasts.
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