Keller throws five scoreless in return to mound, Royals rout Cubs 13-2

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Whit Merrifield, Maikel Franco and Jorge Soler homered, and the Kansas City Royals stopped a six-game slide by pounding the Chicago Cubs 13-2 on Thursday night.

Soler and Salvador Pérez each had three hits and two RBIs, helping Brad Keller to get the win in his first major league appearance in nearly a year. Keller (1-0), who opened the season on the injured list after testing positive for the coronavirus, struck out seven in five scoreless innings.

“I didn’t expect that type of command, but today I was able to command my fastball and use it to get outs,” Keller said. “One thing we’ve tried to work on is my sliders and be more of a swingable pitch.”

Kansas City finished with a season-high 18 hits. It scored a total of 14 runs during its losing streak.

“It seemed like every guy was involved and made a difference tonight,” manager Mike Matheny said. “We saw a lot of guys get to two strikes and still have a good approach.”

Chicago had won six in a row. Tyler Chatwood (2-1) allowed eight runs and 11 hits in 2 1/3 innings after winning each of his two starts this year in impressive fashion.

“I thought he was throwing the ball pretty good, the stuff looked good,” Chicago manager David Ross said. “He had a few pitches that cost him, but some balls found some holes. Just one of those nights I feel like.”

Kansas City grabbed control with nine runs over the first three innings.

Ryan O’Hearn singled in Soler in the first, and Merrifield connected for a two-run shot in the second. Franco added a two-run shot in Kansas City’s six-run third inning, and Nick Heath doubled home Nicky Lopez for his first career hit.

Soler made it 12-0 with a solo drive in the seventh against his former team.

“This stuff is contagious, and we need to carry it into the next series,” Merrifield said.

Struggling Cubs closer Craig Kimbrel worked the eighth, allowing a run when Alex Gordon singled in Brett Phillips.

Victor Caratini and Nico Hoerner each had run-scoring singles in the ninth for Chicago.

ROSTER MOVES

The Cubs signed right-hander Kelvin Herrera and left-hander Matt Dermody to minor league deals. Herrera and Dermody were assigned to the team’s alternate site in South Bend, Indiana.

Herrera struggled in his first two appearances with the White Sox this year, allowing four runs in 2 1/3 innings.

WORTH NOTING

The Royals optioned catcher Meibrys Viloria, outfielder Eric Mejia and right-hander Scott Blewett.

UP NEXT

Cubs: LHP Jon Lester (1-0, 0.82 ERA) starts at St. Louis on Friday night. He has given up one earned run in 11 innings this season.

Royals: RHP Jakob Junis starts Friday night against Minnesota. In his first start of the season against the White Sox, he went 4 1/3 innings and was charged with two runs and six hits.