In what proved to be an exciting showdown, the Chicago Cubs rolled over Kansas City Royals in a comfortable 7-3 victory. Royals outfielder MJ Melendez was back just in time to make the team list for the Royals-Cubs faceoff but failed to make any real impact, finishing 0-for-4.
Injuries also plagued the Royals’ bullpen, both John Schreiber and Hunter Harvey had to leave the game due to discomfort. Overall, the faceoff had some really memorable moments to relive, and here are the top five things we learned from the game.
1. Pete Crow-Armstrong’s Breakout Performance
Coming into the Royals and Cubs faceoff, Pete Crow-Armstrong, had been struggling with a .183 batting average. He ended up turning heads by going 3 for 4 with a run and the go-ahead RBI. His performance was really vital to the Cubs' victory.
“I saw him pretty good,” Crow-Armstrong said about Royals' starter Cole Ragans. “I tend to see lefties relatively okay. He's a really good pitcher.”
As if we ever needed any, but it was a timely reminder that we should never write top players off. Simply put, form is temporary but class is always assured.
2. Christopher Morel's Trade During the Game
It was a moment of mixed emotions for The Cubs as they celebrated their well earned victory while processing the loss of teammate Christopher Morel to the Tampa Bay Rays. In exchange, Isaac Paredes will join the Series winner. Crow-Armstrong was speaking for the entire team when he said: “We're going to miss his energy for sure, his smile.”
3. Javier Assad’s Resilient Pitching
Cubs' relentless pitcher Javier Assad cut a figure of incredible resilience throughout the game, allowing three runs on five hits over six innings. Although he had quite a shaky start, Assad’s adaptability and effective use of off-speed pitches were very important to how the game turned out. Speaking to the media, he said: “I just tried to go out there and execute. I started a little shaky, but I just went out there and attacked the zone.”
4. Royals' Early Lead and Struggles
The Royals raced into an early lead with Hunter Renfroe's two-run single. Unfortunately, they had trouble maintaining the momentum. To cap it off, a controversial fan interference call gave Freddy Fermin a home run, sadly it wasn't enough to secure the win.
5. Impactful Plays from the Bottom of the Cubs’ Lineup
Speaking to the media after the game, Cubs' manager Craig Counsell said, “We got good production from the bottom of our lineup today. Bethancourt and Pete did some really good things today.”
The manager was spot-on. The Cubs and Royals faceoff was a moment in the limelight for them and the The Cubs' bottom lineup players shone brightly for all to see. Michael Busch’s double set up David Bote's RBI double, which was then followed by Crow-Armstrong’s single that ended Ragans' day.
Looking Ahead
The Series winner, The Cubs (51-56) will continue their road trip in Cincinnati, while the Royals (57-49) are heading to Chicago after the Royals Cubs game for a series against the White Sox.