Late pinch-hit slam propels Cubs past Royals

Patrick Wisdom's pinch-hit grand slam rallied the Chicago Cubs past the host Kansas City Royals 9-4 on Saturday night to even the three-game series.

With the Cubs trailing 4-3 in the seventh, Wisdom hit reliever Sam Long's 2-1 fastball 430 feet to left-center.

Wisdom's fifth homer was Chicago's fourth slam of the season and first pinch-hit slam since David Bote hit one against Washington on Aug. 12, 2018.

The Cubs loaded the bases with no outs against Seth Lugo, who exited after getting a shallow flyout by Miguel Amaya.

Lugo (12-5) allowed a season-high six runs on five hits and two walks with two strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.

Chicago built a 3-1 lead on Seiya Suzuki's 15th homer -- a two-run shot in the first -- and an RBI grounder by Nico Hoerner in the third, scoring Pete Crow-Armstrong, who snapped an 0-for-21 slump with a leadoff triple.

The Royals rallied in the sixth, scoring three runs on five hits against Cubs starter Shota Imanaga and reliever Julian Merryweather.

Bobby Witt Jr. doubled in one run and Hunter Renfroe added a two-out, two-run single for a 4-3 lead.

Imanaga allowed three runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out three.

Merryweather (1-0) retired three of six batters faced for the win and Porter Hodge retired all four batters faced in the seventh and eighth.

In the ninth, Bote added a pinch-hit RBI single and Hoerner brought in the game's final run with another grounder.

Suzuki and Mike Tauchman each had two of Chicago's nine hits.

The Cubs snapped a three-game losing streak with their highest offensive output since a 9-2 win at Baltimore on July 9.

Kansas City's bullpen allowed three runs on four hits and a walk in 2 2/3 innings.

Renfroe's 10th home run opened the Royals scoring in the second inning. He had three of Kansas City's nine hits.

The Royals have lost three of four following a four-game winning streak.

--Field Level Media