Cubs 6, Royals 0: All-Star Matthew Boyd shines bright

The Cubs posted their 12th shutout of 2025.

Matthew Boyd’s first career All-Star selection did not result in him playing in the game, mostly because the Cubs wanted him to rest for games exactly like this one.

The well-rested Boyd, who had last pitched 10 days earlier, threw seven outstanding shutout innings and the Cubs put together a varied offense and defeated the Royals 6-0, evening up their three-game series.

No one scored in the first and then the Cubs got on the board off old friend Rich Hill (did I say old? He’s 45!) in the second. Dansby Swanson led off with a single and Ian Happ then hit a ground ball to third that was misplayed. Both runners were safe. Justin Turner hit into a force play, but another error allowed Turner to be safe at first, with Swanson taking third.

Matt Shaw beat out an infield grounder that scored Swanson [VIDEO].

Then Turner and Shaw pulled off an uncontested double steal [VIDEO].

Nico Hoerner’s ground ball fielder’s choice scored Turner to make it 2-0 [VIDEO].

Boyd continued dealing. He retired the first 11 Royals before a two-out walk in the fourth, and didn’t allow a hit until Nick Loftin led off the fifth with a single. The Royals wound up loading the bases with one out in that inning, but Swanson caught a line drive and doubled Freddy Fermin off second [VIDEO].

The call on the field was “safe,” but you can see Swanson immediately signaling to the dugout for a review, and the call was overturned, ending the inning. From BCB’s JohnW53:

Dansby Swanson’s unassisted double play was the first by a Cubs shortstop since Aug. 28, 2017, at home against the Pirates. It came in the fifth inning, with one out, the same as tonight.

With a runner on first, Chris Stewart lined a 1-0 pitch by Mike Montgomery to Javier Baez, who tagged the runner from first.

Tonight’s game was the Cubs’ 1,166th since then.

The Cubs extended their lead in the fifth. With two out, Carson Kelly singled and was doubled in by Pete Crow-Armstrong [VIDEO].

You can hear Jim Deshaies say that the Cubs had been “aggressive” on the bases in this game and PCA certainly was, a day after he missed a game with knee soreness. It was a reasonable chance, I suppose, though with two out PCA likely scores on a single from second.

Boyd continued dealing. He completed seven innings with 93 pitches (63 strikes), allowing four hits, all singles, and a walk. He struck out six [VIDEO].

Here’s more on Boyd’s outing, in which he lowered his season ERA to 2.20 [VIDEO].

Even more on Boyd:

Credit to Rich Hill, too.. at 45 he put together a credible five-inning outing and allowed just one earned run. It’s probably too late in the season for the Royals to flip him, but… who knows?

The Cubs put the game away in the seventh. Shaw led off with a beautifully placed bunt single. Hoerner followed with another single, with Shaw taking third. Then Nico stole second. Kyle Tucker walked to load the bases.

Seiya Suzuki singled in Shaw [VIDEO].

Hoerner took third and Tucker second on that hit, and Shaw scored on a single by Seiya Suzuki [VIDEO].

Tucker took third on that play, and after PCA struck out, Tucker and Suzuki pulled off a slick double steal [VIDEO].

If you’re counting, that’s seven steals for the Cubs in this game. From John:

The Cubs stole seven bases Tuesday. They had eight on Aug. 26 of last year in an 18-8 win at Pittsburgh.

That was their most in a game since they had seven in 1924 — 100 years, 3 months and 1 day earlier.

This was their 23rd game since 1901 with seven or more: 12 with seven, eight with eight, one with nine and two with 10 — in 1903 and 1907.

The game last year, the one in 1924 and this one against the Royals are the only Cubs games in the live-ball era (since 1920) where they have stolen seven bases.

Caleb Thielbar threw an efficient 1-2-3 eighth on only six pitches, and Daniel Palencia, who hadn’t worked since last Friday, entered to finish up in a non-save situation. You could tell Palencia’s command was a bit off, and he allowed a pair of hits. After the first of those hits, the Cubs turned a double play, and Palencia struck out Loftin on a slider to end the game [VIDEO].

Cal Raleigh’s solo homer was the only run in a 1-0 Mariners win over the Brewers, ending Milwaukee’s 11-game winning streak. The Cubs are again tied for first place with the Brewers, both at 60-41. About that 60th win, from John:

The Cubs won their 60th game Tuesday. July 22 is the fourth-earliest date on which they earned their 60th victory of a season.

They won No. 60 on July 18 in 1907 and on July 20 in 1906 and 1969.

Seasons used to start later, so even if a team reached 60 wins in fewer games, it could happen on a later date. The Cubs’ 60th win in 1907 came in their 81st game; in 1906, in their 87th; and in 1969, in their 98th.

They did it in fewer than this year’s 101 games in 17 total seasons, including 2016, in their 100th game, on July 27. They did it in 101 games in 1936, on Aug. 6.

The Cubs reached 60 wins on July 28 in 1929 (94 games), 1935 (95) and 1977 (99). They did it on July 31 in 1918 (93).

Here are Craig Counsell’s postgame comments [VIDEO].

The Cubs will go for the series win Wednesday afternoon at Wrigley Field. Colin Rea will start for the Cubs and Seth Lugo goes for the Royals. Game time is 1:20 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.