Tyler Chatwood and the Cubs get clobbered 13-2 by the Royals, ending their winning streak at 6 games
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chicago Cubs manager David Ross took advantage of an opportunity Thursday night to pull four of his starting position players and give playing time to some of his seldom-used players.
Unfortunately for the Cubs, those starters were pulled by the fourth inning as the Kansas City Royals peppered Tyler Chatwood for 11 hits in 2? innings in coasting to a 13-2 victory that snapped the Cubs’ six-game winning streak.
The 11 hits were five more than Chatwood had allowed in his two previous starts covering 12? innings. The Cubs rotation’s ERA swelled from a major-league-best 1.95 to 2.83.
Reliever Duane Underwood Jr., pitching for the first time since July 29, was tagged for three runs in 2? innings. Jorge Soler, whom the Cubs traded to the Royals for closer Wade Davis after the 2016 season, launched a solo home run off Dan Winkler in the seventh.
The Royals collected 18 hits off Chatwood and four relievers. Embattled closer Craig Kimbrel pitched the eighth and allowed one run on two hits.
Kimbrel did get Maikel Franco to swing at a curve for a groundout. Kimbrel finished the inning by striking out Nick Heath on a curve.
Before Thursday, opponents hadn’t swung at any of Kimbrel’s 24 curves this season.
Chatwood (2-1), who walked 95 in 103? innings in 2018, threw 15 of 16 pitches for strikes in the first inning.
But his location was far from precise, as the Royals totaled six hits in the first two innings before knocking him out during a six-run third.
Adalberto Mondesi and Alex Gordon hit back-to-back doubles with one out, prompting pitching coach Tommy Hottovy to visit the mound.
Franco followed with a two-run home run, and hits by Nicky Lopez and Heath prompted Ross to pull Chatwood.
This was Chatwood’s shortest start since he lasted two innings against the Pirates on Aug. 18, 2018.
The Cubs were shut out for the first time this season, as Royals starter Brad Keller allowed three hits in five innings. Keller was making his first start after being sidelined because of COVID-19.
The Cubs open a three-game series Friday night in St. Louis.
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