The Chicago Cubs put together just enough small ball with just enough luck on Friday night in Kansas City to take game one of their interleague series against the Royals 6-4.
Ryan Dempster made the start for the Cubs, going six innings, giving up four runs (two earned) on nine hits and a walk, while striking out four. Back-to-back singles by the Royals in the bottom of hte second inning and a sac fly were the first mistakes he made on the night, but most of the damage done by Kansas City came in the bottom of the fourth inning. Dempster gave up a two run home run to Jeff Francoeur as well as an RBI single to Melky Cabrera, which put the Royals up 4-3.
The Cubs would mount a comeback, however. Their first three runs came early in the night off of Bruce Chen, who pitched six innings, giving up four runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out four. Jeff Baker had an RBI triple in the first to score Aramis Ramirez, and Carlos Pena and Lou Montanez had RBI hits in the top of the fourth inning. They would tie the inning off of Blake Wood in the top of the seventh when Carlos Pena led off with a double. He was moved to third on an Alfonso Soriano single, and then scored when Blake DeWitt grounded into a double play.
They then broke the tie in the ninth inning. Tony Campana singled on a bunt, was moved to third by D.J. LeMahieu, and then scored when Kosuke Fukudome reached after a throwing error by Chris Getz. Starlin Castro followed with his 37th RBI of the season, scoring LeMahieu.
Carlos Marmol managed to close out the game with minimal trouble, earning his 16th save of the season.
The second game of the series will take place on Saturday night at 6:10 P.M., CDT.