CHICAGO, IL – Matthew Boyd delivered a masterful performance, pitching seven crisp innings to earn his 11th win of the season as the Chicago Cubs defeated the Kansas City Royals 6-0 on Tuesday night. The Cubs’ victory spoiled the highly anticipated return of veteran left-hander Rich Hill to the major leagues with his new team.
Boyd (11-3) was in dominant form, extending his winning streak to five consecutive starts. The left-hander surrendered just four hits, struck out six, and walked one, retiring the first eight Royals batters he faced. Nick Loftin’s line drive single in the fifth inning was the first hit allowed by Boyd. Caleb Thielbar followed with a perfect eighth, and Daniel Palencia closed out the game with two singles in the ninth, completing a combined six-hitter for the Cubs.
Offensively, the Cubs were led by Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson, and Matt Shaw, who each collected two hits. Shaw, Hoerner, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, and Carson Kelly all contributed RBIs. Chicago’s bats ended a two-game skid for the team.
The game marked the debut of Rich Hill (0-1) for the Kansas City Royals, his 14th major league team, a total that matches Edwin Jackson’s record. At 45 years old, Hill became the oldest active player in baseball after being called up from Triple-A Omaha. He allowed three runs (one earned) and six hits in five innings, throwing 90 pitches (55 strikes), walking two, and striking out one.
The Royals dug themselves into an early hole, falling behind 2-0 in the second inning due to two costly errors that botched potential double plays. Crow-Armstrong doubled in a run off Hill in the fifth. The Cubs then put the game out of reach with a three-run seventh inning off Royals reliever Jonathan Bowlan.
The Royals had a prime scoring opportunity in the fifth inning after Loftin’s single, with Freddy Fermin’s bloop and John Rave’s bunt single loading the bases with one out. However, Dansby Swanson made a spectacular play at shortstop, snaring Kyle Isbel’s broken-bat liner and then diving to tag out Fermin before he could retreat to second, completing an inning-ending double play.
The Cubs were aggressive on the basepaths, swiping six bases throughout the game, including four off Hill. A double-steal by Justin Turner and Shaw in the second inning set the tone, and Chicago capped off their scoring in the seventh with another double-steal, as Kyle Tucker stole home and Suzuki took second base.
Looking ahead, the Royals will send right-hander Seth Lugo (6-5, 2.94 ERA) to the mound for Wednesday’s contest against Cubs right-hander Colin Rea (8-3, 3.80). Pregame coverage on Superstar Country 102.5 FM & 1530 AM KQNK begins at 12:30 PM, with first pitch from Wrigley Field in Chicago scheduled for 1:20 PM.
