Plus two relievers leave with injuries.
The offense failed to do anything in the second half of the game, while James McArthur continued his struggles in a 7-3 loss to the Cubs Sunday to drop the series.
The Royals jumped on Cubs starter Javier Assad in the opening frame. New leadoff hitter Michael Massey walked, and advanced to second on an infield single by Bobby Witt Jr. Vinnie Pasquantino lay down a perfect sacrifice bunt. Hunter Renfroe drove home both runners with a single to make it 2-0.
The Cubs tied it up in the third when Pete Crow-Armstrong singled up the middle to begin the inning. Christian Bethancourt lay down a bunt that got past Ragans to give him a single. After a double steal advanced both runners, Nico Hoerner hit one down the line to plate both runners and tie the game.
Freddy Fermin gave the Royals the lead in the fourth inning with his fifth home run of the year on a ball that nearly seemed foul but was interfered with by a Cubs fan (but not Steve Bartman!)
This Cubs fans just robbed the entire stadium of free Chick-Fil-A pic.twitter.com/LlkTaSq0N5
— 643Royals (@643royals) July 28, 2024
Ragans ran out of gas in the sixth, coughing up the lead to the Cubs. Michael Busch hit a one-out double, and with two outs, David Bote doubled over the head of Hunter Renfroe to tie the game. Pete Crow-Armstrong dribble a grounder right past Massey for a single to score another run and give the Cubs a 4-3 lead. Ragans would exit after just 5 2/3 innings - his shortest outing since June 29 - allowing eight hits and four runs with seven strikeouts and one walk.
Hunter Harvey came in for the eighth, and gave up two hard-hit balls that were turned into outs on an incredible catch by Kyle Isbel and a nice play by Maikel Garcia.
Kyle Isbel pic.twitter.com/8H8SKtAeLf
— 643Royals (@643royals) July 28, 2024
He then walked the next two hitters and exited the game with trainers, with the Royals later saying it was back spasms. John Schreiber had earlier exited the sixth with right knee patella tendon discomfort.
James McArthur continued his struggles in the ninth, giving up a solo home run to Patrick Wisdom. Michael Busch hit an RBI single, and Dansby Swanson plated another run with a sacrifice fly to give the Cubs a four-run lead. James McArthur has allowed three home runs in seven games this month with a 10.57 ERA.
The Royals did not have a hit over the final five innings of the game. They fall to 57-49 and begin a seven-game road trip beginning with a three-game set against the White Sox in Chicago on Monday.
