Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (7/27/24): Cubs 9, Royals 4 – Wisdom Slams Royals as Bats Finally Wake Up
The Cubs offense finally woke up on Saturday night in Kansas City after being asleep for most of the second half. Chicago hitters exploded for six runs in the final three innings to pull off a comeback victory over the Royals.
Seiya Suzuki gave the North Siders an immediate lead in the top of the 1st inning when he cracked a two-run homer to left off of Seth Lugo that made it 2-0. Shōta Imanaga allowed a solo shot to Hunter Renfroe in the 2nd that cut the margin in half.
Pete Crow-Armstrong has struggled at the plate but he created a run Saturday hitting a triple and racing home on a Michael Busch groundout in the 3rd. Imanaga’s evening came to an end in the 6th after he allowed an RBI double to Bobby Witt Jr. which made it a 3-2 game.
Julian Merryweather came on with a man on first and two outs and was greeted by a Freddy Fermin double and then a go-ahead two-run single from Renfroe and the Royals were up 4-3. The Cubs responded the following frame with two singles and a walk to load the bases with nobody out.
Lugo recorded one out before he got lifted for left-hander Sam Long which led Chicago manager Craig Counsell to pinch-hit for Crow-Armstrong with Patrick Wisdom. The move most definitely worked as Wisdom crushed an absolute tank to the fountain in left for a go-ahead grand slam.
Patrick Wisdom pinch-hit grand slam for the lead! 👏 pic.twitter.com/93ktRRkOn0
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 28, 2024
The Cubs added two more runs in the top of the 9th on a single from David Bote and a grounder by Nico Hoerner. Kansas City didn’t really threaten after the 6th inning and the road team went on to win 9-4. (Box score)
Key Moment
Countless times this season the Cubs have had excellent scoring chances like their bases-loaded opportunity in the 6th inning and they seem to more often than not squander them. That did not happen Saturday and it was the difference in the game.
Why the Cubs Won
The pitching wasn’t perfect in this one but it turns out scoring a bunch of runs can make up for that. It’s amazing how that works.
Stats That Matter
- Imanaga was good but the Royals kind of ground him down and he got a bit tired late: 5.2 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 3 K, and 0 BB.
- Suzuki had a single as well as the homer and hopefully is starting to heat up.
- Mike Tauchman had two singles and had to move from DH to center field after Wisdom hit for PCA.
Bottom Line
A big crooked number on the scoreboard is pretty nice, isn’t it? The Cubs would be in a dramatically different spot right now if they had more consistently produced like this. Alas, they have not, so I guess we will just have to savor this rare one.
On Deck
The rubber match of the series is Sunday at 1:10pm CT. Javier Assad takes the mound against hard-throwing lefty Cole Ragans with the usual broadcasts on Marquee and 670 The Score.