The Chicago Cubs secured a thrilling victory against the Kansas City Royals with a late-inning grand slam by Patrick Wisdom. The game was tied at 4-4 in the seventh inning when Wisdom stepped up to the plate and launched a massive 430-foot shot to left-center field off reliever Sam Long. This clutch hit marked Wisdom’s fifth home run of the season and the Cubs’ fourth grand slam of the year. It was also the first pinch-hit grand slam for the team since David Bote accomplished the feat back in 2018.
The Cubs found themselves trailing early in the game but managed to take the lead with Seiya Suzuki’s two-run homer in the first inning and an RBI groundout by Nico Hoerner in the third. However, the Royals fought back in the sixth inning, scoring three runs to take a 4-3 lead against Cubs’ pitchers Shota Imanaga and Julian Merryweather.
Imanaga pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on six hits, while Merryweather picked up the win after retiring three of six batters faced. The Cubs’ bullpen held strong, with Porter Hodge shutting down the Royals in the seventh and eighth innings.
In the ninth inning, the Cubs added insurance runs with a pinch-hit RBI single by Bote and another RBI groundout by Hoerner. Overall, Chicago’s offense came alive with nine hits in the game, snapping a three-game losing streak.
On the other side, the Royals struggled to contain the Cubs’ offense, with their bullpen giving up three runs on four hits and a walk in just 2 2/3 innings. Despite Hunter Renfroe’s impressive performance at the plate, including a home run and three hits, the Royals were unable to secure the win.
With this victory, the Cubs evened the three-game series against the Royals, providing a much-needed boost for the team after a recent slump. Meanwhile, the Royals will look to bounce back after losing three of their last four games following a four-game winning streak.