Royals Recap

Welcome back to "Royals Recap" on Big Dill Sports, where we dive deep into Kansas City Royals action. I’m Dillon, your trusty guide through the highs and lows of the Royals’ season. Today, we're unpacking game one of the series at Wrigley Field, where our guys took on the powerhouse Chicago Cubs.

The Royals hit the field Monday night, fresh from the All-Star break, only to find themselves battling not just the Cubs but some serious road bumps. Kansas City fell 7-3 against the National League’s top team, and it was clear early on that the Cubs came to play.

Noah Cameron was the man on the mound for us. The young lefty had his 13th appearance and third start this season. He put in a solid effort, covering five and two-thirds innings, allowing four runs—three of which were earned—while striking out six. But the Cubs wasted no time, attacking early with two runs in the second inning. A decisive RBI single from Pete Crow-Armstrong and a crucial double by Michael Busch set the tone.

On the offensive side, the Royals found themselves in some hitting woes. We could only muster five hits, which made stringing together rallies a real challenge. Our home-run leader, Vinnie Pasquantino, managed to score a run, going 1-for-3. Meanwhile, Maikel García, the guy with the best batting average on the team, added an RBI on a long sacrifice fly.

Our All-Star shortstop, Bobby Witt Jr., was in the mix, yet he left seven runners stranded, a testament to our struggles with runners in scoring position.

The bullpen had its share of struggles, too, plagued by injuries. John Schreiber had to exit after just one pitch with knee issues, and newcomer Hunter Harvey left due to back spasms. As if that wasn’t enough, our closer, James McArthur, allowed three more runs in the ninth, changing a tight one-run game into a final 7-3 margin, and bumping his season ERA to 5.44.

With this loss, the Royals sit at 48-53 for the season. But there's no time to dwell! Game two is right around the corner. Left-hander Kris Bubic is set to oppose the Cubs' seasoned vet, Matthew Boyd, tomorrow at 6:10 p.m. CT. With the trade deadline looming, there's buzz about possible bullpen reinforcements. The Royals’ relief corps could sure use a boost with a 4.27 ERA since mid-June.

Before we wrap up, let's talk about who gets the coveted title of "Big Dill" of the game. I’m giving it to Noah Cameron for his resilience on the mound. It might not have been the smoothest outing, but amidst a challenging game, he showed grit, and that's worth a nod.

That’s our recap for today! Thanks for tuning in to Big Dill Sports. Stay with us for more Royals updates as the series continues and the trade deadline approaches. Catch you next time with more from "Royals Recap." Until then, keep rooting for those boys in blue!