2023-08-20 16:03:35
CHICAGO — Cody Bellinger homered twice and Justin Steele pitched six strong innings as the Chicago Cubs beat the Kansas City Royals 6-4 on Saturday.
The Cubs (63-59) entered the game 3 1/2 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers, who led the NL Central following a divisional decline on Friday.
Bellinger hit two home runs to the opposite field in the first three innings as the Cubs led 4-1. His 20 homers in 2023 are the most in a single season since he was named MVP in 2019 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Bellinger finished 3-2 with four RBIs and two runs scored.
Steele (14-3) won his fifth game in six decisions allowing two runs on six hits. Adbert Alzolay had his 16th save in 17 chances this season.
Kansas City (40-85) scored just two runs in the first six innings before Bobby Witt Jr. drove in Drew Wates to pull within 6-3 in the seventh. With a double by Kyle Isbel, Venezuelan Salvador Pérez scored in the eighth in the last run of the day.
For the Royals, Venezuelans Salvador Pérez 3-2 with two runs scored, Freddy Fermín 4-1 with an RBI. Cuban Dairon Blanco 3-1.
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