The Cubs scored five unanswered runs to rally for a 5-2 win over the Reds. Addison Russell and Willson Contreras hit solo homers in the seventh and Jason Heyward added a two-run blast in the eighth. Jason Hammel went seven innings to improve to 15-and-9. Aroldis Chapman earned his 15th save. The Cubs are an MLB-best 95-and-55.
Brandon Phillips belted a solo homer for Cincinnati. Blake Wood allowed three runs in relief to fall to 6-and-4.
Game #2 of the series is tonight at Wrigley Field.
Kendrys Morales belted a three-run homer for his 29th of the season as the Royals powered past the White Sox 8-3 at Kauffman Stadium. Alcides Escobar and Paulo Orlando also homered for Kansas City, which won the final three games of the four-game series. Yordano Ventura went the distance for his first complete-game win to even his record at 11-and-11.
Carlos Rodon was tagged for eight hits and six runs in four-plus innings to fall to 7-and-10 with the loss. Jose Abreu hit his 25th home run and Carlos Sanchez also went deep for Chicago in defeat.
The White Sox are in Philadelphia tonight to begins a 2-game series with the Phillies. The Pre-Game Show begins at 5:30 on Newstalk 1060.
